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Biomedical subjects

F J Macartney

Publications and source records attributed to F J Macartney.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Tetralogy of Fallot with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

The clinical features of eight patients with tetralogy of Fallot and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries were determined and found to be usually unhelpful in differentiating such patients from those with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect. The point of connection between the pulmonary and collateral arteries could usually be demonstrated at cineangiography by observing washin and washout between the two systems. The central pulmonary arteries connected with the entire pulmonary vascular bed in the five patients in whom the anatomy of the pulmonary circulation was clearly demonstrated and were thought to do so in the remaining three patients also. In six out of eight patients only one collateral artery connected with each hilar pulmonary artery. These findings suggest that the anatomy of the pulmonary circulation in patients with tetralogy of Fallot and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries is usually less complex than in pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect, making the outlook for complete repair more hopeful. The major determinant of successful complete repair appears to be pulmonary arterial size. Early palliative surgery to increase pulmonary blood flow is recommended to encourage normal growth of the central and intrapulmonary arteries.

Aorta↗
PubMed1985

Mustard's operation for patients with ventriculoarterial concordance. Report of two cases and a cautionary tale.

Three patients with ventriculoarterial concordance and an abnormal atrioventricular connexion were investigated. One patient had total anomalous pulmonary venous connexion to a left vertical vein. In 1972 this was repaired and a ventricular septal defect was closed, but the presence of atrioventricular discordance was missed and the patient died. In the other two patients, Mustard's operation resulted in survival. One patient had situs solitus and atrioventricular discordance with an associated ventricular septal defect, which was closed. The other had left isomerism (quasi solitus) with an ambiguous atrioventricular connexion (quasi discordant). A previously noted ventricular septal defect had spontaneously closed.

Angiocardiography↗
PubMed1985

Localisation of ventricular septal defects by simultaneous display of superimposed colour Doppler and cross sectional echocardiographic images.

Precise non-invasive localisation of the site of a small ventricular septal defect was attempted using a new technique that simultaneously combines conventional cross sectional echocardiography with a Doppler system by superimposing the colour coded direction and velocity of blood flow directly on to real time ultrasound images. Twenty three patients with unoperated ventricular septal defects and a further eight after surgical closure were studied; 12 children with normal hearts served as controls. A colour coded blood flow jet entering the right ventricle during systole was identified in all 23 unoperated patients, in 11 of whom the defect was too small to be visualised by conventional cross sectional echocardiography. The colour Doppler technique precisely located 19 perimembranous and five trabecular defects (one patient had two defects). Five of the postoperative patients were without clinical evidence of a significant shunt but had pansystolic murmurs. In each of these five, trans-septal shunt blood flow as demonstrated by colour Doppler images whereas in only three of these patients was the residual defect large enough to be visualised by conventional cross sectional echocardiography. Three postoperative patients had no murmurs and showed no residual shunt on colour Doppler images. This was confirmed at cardiac catheterisation. There were no false positive results among the controls. This technique is useful for the more accurate diagnosis and location of ventricular septal defects and may help in assessing their natural or surgical closure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Cross sectional echocardiographic and angiocardiographic correlation in criss cross hearts.

Cross sectional echocardiography can provide accurate anatomical diagnosis in congenital heart diseases and therefore should be able reliably to identify criss cross hearts and enable the analysis of their sequential arrangement non-invasively. The cross sectional echocardiographic diagnoses in eight consecutive patients with this condition were compared with those made at cardiac catheterisation and cineangiocardiography (five retrospectively, three prospectively). The mean number of invasive studies required to reach the diagnosis was 1.9 (range 1-4). Complete anatomical diagnosis was achieved with cross sectional echocardiography in all patients, but identification of ventricular morphology was much more straightforward using cineangiocardiography. If the transducer was held steady in either a precordial or subcostal position and rocked anteriorly and posteriorly the characteristic crossing over of the ventricular inflows could easily be seen. In no plane was there normal parallel arrangement of ventricular inflows. A complete diagnosis should be possible in these patients using cross sectional echocardiography in experienced hands and at a single session in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory.

Angiocardiography↗
PubMed1985

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in complete transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum. A cross sectional echocardiography study.

The roles of posterior bulging of the interventricular septum (septal bulge) and of systolic septal mitral apposition in patients with simple transposition of the great arteries are not known. Cross sectional echocardiograms of 40 such patients were reviewed (after exclusion of those with fixed left ventricular outflow tract obstruction) and haemodynamic findings were compared with long and short axis measurements within the left ventricle. There was no significant correlation between the degree of septal bulge and systolic gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract, but septal bulge correlated weakly with systolic right ventricular pressure and inversely with pulmonary arteriolar resistance index. Systolic left ventricular outflow gradient was inversely related to the minimum systolic distance between the anterior mitral leaflet and interventricular septum. No patients without complete systolic apposition of the anterior mitral leaflet and interventricular septum had a left ventricular outflow gradient greater than 20 mm Hg. Conversely, even when cross sectional echocardiography showed apparently total obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract at some time in systole there was often no significant gradient detected during haemodynamic study. In the short axis cuts closeness of the papillary muscles to the interventricular septum or to each other was unrelated to systolic gradient. This study shows that (a) cross sectional echocardiography can identify fixed obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract in simple transposition of the great arteries; (b) the degree of septal bulge, unless complicated by fibrous thickening of the anterior mitral leaflet and interventricular septum, is unrelated to the gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract; (c) the absence of systolic septal/mitral apposition excludes a significant gradient at that site across the left ventricular outflow tract; and (d) papillary muscle geometry is unrelated to dynamic gradients across the left ventricular outflow in this condition.

Coronary Circulation↗
PubMed1985

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty for pulmonary valve stenosis in infants and children.

Pulmonary valve stenosis was relieved by balloon dilatation during cardiac catheterisation on 27 occasions in 23 infants and children aged 7 days to 12 years, median 31 months (three aged less than 2 weeks). Pulmonary valve diameter was estimated by cross sectional echocardiography to assist in the choice of balloon size. Before dilatation the right ventricular systolic pressure ranged from 41 to 190 (median 92) mm Hg and was suprasystemic in 10 patients. There were significant reductions in the ratio of right ventricular to systemic systolic pressure and pulmonary systolic pressure gradients immediately after balloon dilatation. Twelve patients underwent recatheterisation (11 at six months and one at one week after balloon dilatation), which showed further improvement with significant reductions in right ventricular pressure or pulmonary valve gradient or both, particularly in the patients with the least satisfactory initial results. This improvement was attributed to resolution of the obstruction at infundibular level. Repeat pulmonary valve dilatation was successfully performed in four patients who had poor results after initial dilatation. Balloon pulmonary valvotomy appears to provide good short term and medium term relief of pulmonary valve stenosis and may obviate the need for surgery in many cases. An apparently poor immediate haemodynamic result does not preclude a good longer term result.

Angiography↗
PubMed1985

Decision making in the definitive repair of the heart with a small right ventricle.

Data from 51 patients with small right ventricle who underwent a definitive repair were analyzed retrospectively. The repair was considered complete (29 patients) when it resulted in relief of the right ventricular outflow tract obstruction by closure of intracardiac (atrial septal defect) and extracardiac (when present) shunts. The repair was considered a definitive palliation when the intracardiac and the extracardiac shunts were left open (11 patients). A complete separation of the systemic and pulmonary circulations was established with the use of the Fontan procedure in another 11 patients. The outcome in these patients correlated with the preoperative size of the right ventricular cavity as assessed by measurement of the tricuspid valve diameter and by consideration of the right ventricular morphology (based on the tripartite right ventricular concept). If the tricuspid valve of a tripartite right ventricle has a diameter above the lower 99% confidence limit of the normal mean it can be safely incorporated in a complete repair (p less than .01). This also applies for a right ventricle without a trabecular portion, provided the criteria of the Fontan operation are fulfilled. Right ventricles with tricuspid valve diameters smaller than the lower 99% confidence limit of the normal mean cannot sustain total pulmonary blood flow. Definitive palliation should be reserved for use in patients whose right ventricles are too small for complete repair and who are not suitable candidates for Fontan's procedure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Atrioventricular septal defect with balanced ventricles and malaligned atrial septum: double-outlet right atrium. Report of two cases.

An unusual form of atrioventricular septal defect was found at operation. The anatomy was that of a primum atrial septal defect with deviation of the atrial septum to the left. Thus from the right atrium both right and left atrioventricular valves could be seen. The left-sided valve was tricuspid. Repair was achieved by closure of the septal commissure of the left-sided valve ("cleft"), excision of the lower part of the atrial septum, and insertion of a pericardial patch. The lower part of the patch was sutured between the left and right atrioventricular valves. A specimen with similar anatomy is also described.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1984

The univentricular atrioventricular connection: getting to the root of a thorny problem.

Most hearts described as "single ventricle" or "univentricular heart" possess 2 ventricular chambers, even though 1 is usually described as an "outlet chamber." This stems from the wide acceptance that the criterion of a single ventricle is the presence of a double-inlet atrioventricular (AV) connection. In recent years, using this criterion, an attempt was made to show how hearts with double-inlet right ventricle or "classic tricuspid atresia" were (in terms of ventricular morphology) just as univentricular as "single ventricle with outlet chamber." This attempt brought still further confusion to an already contentious topic. The root of the problem clearly is the injudicious use of the adjective "single" or "univentricular." Conventionally it is used to describe the ventricular mass. In most hearts with double-inlet connection it is not the ventricles that are univentricular; it is the AV connection. The concept of a univentricular AV connection, then, appropriately groups hearts with double-inlet along with those having absence of 1 AV connection. It distinguishes this entire group from those other hearts with biventricular AV connections (each atrium connected to its own ventricle). The term "univentricular AV connection" is thus a collective one for all those hearts in which the atria connect to only 1 ventricle. Confusion will be completely removed if individual hearts are described for what they are in terms of AV connection and ventricular morphology (for example, double-inlet left ventricle with rudimentary right ventricle rather than single ventricle with outlet chamber).

Heart Atria↗
PubMed1984

Morphologic features of an intact ventricular septum susceptible to subpulmonary obstruction in complete transposition.

Twenty-five autopsy specimens of complete transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum (VS) were categorized as "bulging" (11 cases) or " nonbulging " (14 cases) according to the curvature of the VS. A fibrous ridge was observed on the VS, especially at the site of mitral apposition in 82% of the bulging group. No fibrous ridge was seen in the nonbulging group. An objective index of anteroposteriorness was then designed to measure the distance between the midpoint of the nonfacing aortic cusp line and the left anterior descending coronary artery. In the bulging group, the aorta lay more anterior to the pulmonary trunk, whereas in the hearts with a straight VS, the aorta tended to lie side by side and to the right of the pulmonary trunk. The midmitral line is an imaginary line in the middle of the anterior mitral leaflet. The more the pulmonary valve is wedged toward the right atrioventricular junction, the more the midmitral line will pass through the nonfacing pulmonary cusp rather than right pulmonary cusp or the nonfacing /right commissure. This was so in 100% of the bulging group, but in only 36% of the nonbulging group. These differences between the groups in terms of anteroposterior index and extent of wedging were statistically significant. In conclusion, if the aorta lies more anterior and to the left of pulmonary trunk rather than side by side and to the right, the "wedged" subpulmonary area will be more susceptible to obstruction caused by septal bulging. Cross-sectional echocardiography is the best means of diagnosing these features.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Cross-sectional echocardiographic diagnosis of azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava.

Azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava has importance for both the invasive diagnosis of congenital heart disease by catheterization and for surgical treatment. Cross-sectional echocardiography was used to examine 1,000 patients (1 day to 16 years, mean 3.3 years) who also had angiographic or surgical confirmation. Twenty-eight patients (3%) had azygos continuation (left 13, right 14, bilateral 1) and, in 26 patients, the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava was absent. Azygos continuation was prospectively detected in all and was directly visualized in subcostal scans as a venous structure posterior to the aorta coursing behind the heart and not entering the inferior aspect of either atrium in 26/28 (93%). Azygos connection to the ipsilateral superior vena cava or atrium was correctly predicted in all. The inferior vena cava was visualized in all patients without azygos continuation, except one neonate with omphalocele. We conclude that cross-sectional echocardiography can accurately detect azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava and predict its side and connection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Flying and congenital heart disease.

Only those congenital defects carrying a very low risk of complication (either before or after surgical correction) were considered. Atrial Septal Defects--(a) Ostium primum defects should be treated with caution either before or after surgical correction because of the risk of progressive conduction disorders and mitral regurgitation. (b) Ostium secundum defects could be considered for licensing (if the defect is small) or with surgical repair if the right ventricular systolic pressure is normal. (c) Sinus venosus defects--if too small to require surgical repair, licensing may be considered provided ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring shows no evidence of arrhythmias. Surgery increases the risk of sino-atrial disease, thus licensing should be permitted only where there is no evidence of arrhythmia and adequate cardiological follow-up is possible. Ventricular Septal Defects--Subjects with very small defects not requiring surgical closure may be considered for licensing. Subjects who have had surgical closure have a risk of arrhythmias and should be carefully evaluated. Pulmonary Stenosis--If mild (either before or after surgery) may be licensed, but regular assessment perhaps including right heart catheterization is needed to demonstrate stability of the lesion. Persistent Ductus Arteriosus--Surgical closure should be recommended on diagnosis and need not affect licensing. Isolated Bicuspid Aortic Valve--Need not debar from licensing, but careful annual examination (with electrocardiogram 2-D echocardiography and fluroscopy ) is required to detect calcification, stenosis or regurgitation. Coarctation of aorta--Subjects who have had a repair before the age of 12 years may be considered for licensing after examination of other risk factors (blood pressure at rest and on exercise in particular). Those repaired over the age of 12 may be considered for restricted licensing if normotensive. These recommendations will need review in the light of further long-term studies currently under way.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Double outlet right ventricle. Cross sectional echocardiographic findings, their anatomical explanation, and surgical relevance.

The precise method of surgical repair of double outlet right ventricle depends both on the relation of the interventricular communication to the cardiac outlets and on the course and insertion of the atrioventricular valve tension apparatus. It may be difficult to connect the interventricular communication with one or other outlet or both either because the interventricular communication is too far from the outlets or because atrioventricular tension apparatus interposes between them. This study was carried out in order to establish whether these details could be recognised preoperatively using cross sectional echocardiography. Forty two echocardiograms were reviewed retrospectively from patients with double outlet right ventricle, excluding those with atrioventricular septal defects and atrioventricular discordance. Ten further such patients were studied prospectively. The diagnosis was confirmed at open heart surgery in 19 patients. The relation of the great arteries and their outlet tracts to each other and to the interventricular communication was readily and accurately predicted. Four patients (7.7%) had no infundibular septum. The remaining 48 had such a septum. In 27 (52%) the interventricular communication was overridden by a great artery. In 14 (27%) it was roofed by the ventriculoinfundibular fold, and in 11 (21%) it was confined to the inlet or trabecular septa. The insertion of chordae tendineae limited the possible surgical options in 12 patients (23.1%) who were distributed unpredictably among the above groups. Four patients had straddling atrioventricular valves. In five, tricuspid tension apparatus inserted into the underside of the infundibular septum and, in two, into the roof of the defect. In one patient the mitral valve inserted into the defect floor. Tricuspid tension apparatus inserted into the floor of the defect in a further nine patients, but this does not compromise surgery. Thus in double outlet right ventricle cross sectional echocardiography can provide unique information necessary for planning of rational surgical management.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Significance of pulmonary valve prolapse. A cross sectional echocardiographic study.

Many patients with congenital heart disease now undergo cardiac surgery based solely on clinical and echocardiographic findings, but those with intracardiac shunts still frequently require cardiac catheterisation because there is no reliable non-invasive method of measuring the pulmonary artery pressure. Blinded to the haemodynamic results two independent observers retrospectively studied the cross sectional echocardiograms of 59 patients with uncomplicated ventricular septal defect to assess whether diastolic backward bowing of the pulmonary valve leaflets towards the right ventricular outflow tract (pulmonary valve prolapse) was associated with pulmonary hypertension. There was considerable interobserver variation in the diagnosis of pulmonary valve prolapse, but concordance was achieved in 27 cases. Mean pulmonary artery systolic and mean and diastolic pressures and the ratios of aortic to pulmonary artery mean pressures were all significantly higher for the group with pulmonary valve prolapse diagnosed by both observers than for the group without, thus showing an association between pulmonary valve prolapse and pulmonary hypertension. Further studies are warranted to determine the usefulness of this cross sectional echocardiographic sign in routine clinical practice.

Aorta↗
PubMed1984

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. Potential for false negative diagnosis with cross sectional echocardiography.

Cross sectional echocardiography can identify anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk. It has been suggested that identification of the left coronary artery arising from the aorta using this technique excludes the diagnosis. In three such infants the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery was identified in each by cross sectional echocardiography. In all three cases, however, an echo free linear structure apparently arising from the aorta, resembling a normal left coronary artery, was imaged. Anatomical sections in one patient, simulating cross sectional echocardiographic cuts, showed that this structure was almost certainly the transverse sinus of the pericardium. False positive cross sectional echocardiographic diagnosis of this condition is also possible because of the failure to image a normally arising left coronary artery. Thus identification of the anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk appears to be the only reliable echocardiographic finding in this condition, and contrast cineaortography remains necessary in patients in whom the diagnosis is suspected clinically or electrocardiographically.

Aortography↗
PubMed1984

Use of continuous wave Doppler ultrasound velocimetry to assess the severity of coarctation of the aorta by measurement of aortic flow velocities.

Peak ascending and descending aortic blood flow velocities were measured using continuous wave Doppler ultrasound velocimetry in 30 children with coarctation or recoarctation of the aorta and in 13 control subjects. The results were compared with the arm to leg systolic blood pressure difference. The peak flow velocities in the descending aorta were significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects and there was a close correlation with the systolic blood pressure gradient. Since there was no overlap of flow velocities between the patients and the control subjects the Doppler technique enables coarctation confidently to be excluded as well as demonstrating its presence and severity. The method is simple, rapid, independent of the condition of the aortic valve, and is applicable to neonates in whom the diagnosis of coarctation may otherwise be difficult. In older children it is useful for detecting recoarctation and following its progress, particularly in patients in whom a reliable estimate of the systolic blood pressure gradient cannot be obtained.

Adolescent↗