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Biomedical subjects

F R Gutierrez

Publications and source records attributed to F R Gutierrez.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

The thoracic aorta studied by MR imaging.

Thirty-three patients with a variety of disorders of the thoracic aorta (aneurysm, dissection, Marfan syndrome, coarctation/pseudocoarctation, L-transposition, and Takayasu disease) were evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. MR imaging delineated the presence and extent of thoracic aortic aneurysms and showed the relationship of the aneurysm to arch vessels; it also demonstrated intimal flaps and individual lumina in types A and B aortic dissection. Dilation of the ascending aorta in Marfan syndrome and focal narrowing of the aorta in coarctation were well visualized. The anteroposterior and side-to-side relationships of the aorta and pulmonary artery in L-transposition were demonstrated, as were aortic wall thickening and branch vessel narrowing in Takayasu arteritis. Initial experience suggests that MR imaging may provide a noninvasive method for evaluating thoracic aortic disease. Limitations include inferior spatial resolution, occasional difficulty in imaging the entire region of interest in one section, lack of signal from calcifications, and inability to monitor critically ill patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Digital subtraction angiography of the coronary arteries.

The application of digital coronary arteriography in the evaluation of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease is considered. Digital imaging of coronary arteries and bypass grafts can augment 35-mm cineangiography and may eventually replace film for coronary arteriography. The clinical efficacy of both selective and nonselective digital coronary arteriography is not yet established, however, a number of advantages over 35 mm cine have now been delineated including high contrast sensitivity image subtraction and digital image processing. One particular advantage of digital coronary arteriography is the ability to perform an immediate quantitative analysis of coronary images providing a reliable and consistent measure of the significance of a stenotic lesion. Technical requirements for digital coronary arteriography include a high output X-ray generator, low noise television chain, a 512 X 512 digital image matrix, frame rates of at least 15 fps, and high data storage capacity of c500 megabytes. The utilization of digital coronary imaging as a supplement or in place of 35-mm cine angiography will provide improved coronary imaging and enable quantification for more accurate and clinically significant coronary artery imaging.

Angiography↗
PubMed1984

Digital venous angiography in the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism.

Twenty-five patients with the clinical suspicion of pulmonary thromboembolism underwent venous digital subtraction angiography (DSA) concurrently with selective conventional pulmonary angiography and the results were compared by two independent observers. Our conclusion is that venous DSA lacks adequate specificity and sensitivity for the diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism in subsegmental pulmonary arteries. Any benefit derived from this slightly less invasive technique is far outweighed by the decrease in technical detail when compared to the selective film screen method.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The radiographic appearance of coronary artery dissection: a decision-making dilemma.

The appearance of acute iatrogenic dissection of the coronary arteries during coronary angiography is described in five patients. Specific signs of dissection include: 1) initimal flap, 2) delayed flow, 3) loss of side branches, 4) periostial contrast "puddling," and 5) unusually small size coronary artery with atypical smooth walls. Recognition of the radiographic patterns of this complication should permit distinction from coronary spasm, thrombosis, and embolization. Recent advent of alternate forms of therapy (streptokinase infusion, angioplasty) makes it imperative to precisely diagnose the dissection to avoid possible catastrophic results.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

NMR imaging of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae .

The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulae is reported, and the value of NMR in separating vascular from nonvascular lesions in the lung and mediastinum is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Spontaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect in infants and young children.

The records of 264 pediatric patients with uncomplicated ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) were reviewed. Eighty-seven patients were younger than age 4 years at the time of cardiac catheterization. Subnormal weight gain, frequent pneumonia, cyanosis or tachypnea were present in 26 patients (30%). Of the 36 infants at catheterization, 17 (48%) had the previously described symptoms, including 12 (33%) who had congestive heart failure. Eight of the 36 infants were found to have closed their defect at a subsequent catheterization. Six of 18 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization between 1 and 2 years of age also had spontaneously closed their ASD at subsequent study. Statistical analysis of hemodynamic data revealed no difference (except a smaller shunt size) between ASDs that closed and those that did not in patients who were less than 4 years at initial catheterization. Analysis of hemodynamic data revealed no statistical differences between groups of patients with an ASD who were younger than and those older than 4 years at time of diagnostic study. Patients with ASDs that closed were significantly different from patients with atrial level shunting thought to be secondary to a valve-incompetent foramen ovale with respect to age at initial study (11 versus 2 months, p less than 0.001), mean left atrial pressure (7.7 versus 12.3 mm Hg, p less than 0.02) and difference between mean right and left atrial pressures (1.0 versus 4.2 mm Hg, p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angiocardiography↗
PubMed1982

Improvement of left ventricular function after ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery during infancy.

Considerable controversy surrounds the optimal management of symptomatic infants with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery; this includes the timing and type of surgical intervention. Long-term follow-up was obtained on three patients who had simple ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery at or before 8 months of age; long-term follow-up on an adolescent treated with a saphenous vein bypass graft from the aorta to the coronary artery was available for comparison. Remarkable increase in left ventricular contractility was observed in the three patients treated only by simple ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery during infancy. Thallous chloride T1 201 exercise studies disclosed no perfusion abnormalities in any of the patients despite angiographically demonstrable wall-motion abnormalities in two of the four patients. Our study suggests that simple ligation of the anomalous left coronary artery near its origin in patients with angiographically detectable left-to-right shunting can provide long-term survival with good left ventricular function and minimal clinical complaints.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Clinical and radiographic manifestations of aortoesophageal fistulas.

Aneurysms of the thoracic aorta simulated primary esophageal disease both clinically and radiographically in 5 patients. Four had an aortoesophageal fistula at the time of presentation; endoscopic biopsy of a presumed esophageal tumor precipitated hematemesis in the fifth patient. In retrospect, the fistulas were demonstrated by barium esophagography in 3 patients. In 3, arteriography showed the aortic aneurysm but failed to reveal the fistula. The literature confirms a similar presentation for most other aortoesophageal fistulas, with premonitory esophageal bleeding followed hours to days later by massive hemorrhage. Of the reported cases of rupture of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta, 12% bled into the esophagus. While clinical and radiographic distinction between primary esophageal disease and esophageal manifestations of an aortic aneurysm is occasionally difficult, it is crucial for proper management.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

CT of anomalies of the mediastinal vessels.

Computed tomographic (CT) studies of the thorax were performed on 12 patients with congenital anomalies of the mediastinal great vessels. CT correctly identified 11 of 12 abnormalities including left superior vena cava, right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery, L- and D-transposition of the great vessels, pulmonary valvular stenosis, and truncus arteriosus. CT obviated further invasive procedures in those anomalies not associated with intracardiac defects and supplemented the angiographic findings in some patients with intracardiac defects requiring catheterization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Chest film diagnosis of disc embolization in patients with Beall mitral valve prostheses.

This report presents the chest film findings in three patients with Beall mitral valve prostheses in whom severe disc wear resulted in disc embolization. In all three cases the worn disc embolized to the thoracic aorta with catastrophic decompensation, and all three patients were salvaged with emergency operation. Detection of the embolized disc was possible with plain chest radiography in each case and may permit removal of the embolized disc at the time of valve replacement. Early detection of disc wear and replacement of worn Beall mitral valve prostheses are advocated to avoid this left-threatening complication.

Aorta, Thoracic↗
PubMed1980

Cineangiography in the diagnosis and evaluation of aortic dissection.

Fourteen patients with suspected aortic dissection were studied with 35-mm biplane cineangiography, and the results were compared with those of previously obtained conventional large-film studies. There was no loss of radiographic information due to the decreased resolution of the cine technique. The detection of initial dissection sites, reentry points, and intimal flaps, and the evaluation of aortic regurgitation and the coronary ostia may be improved with cineangiography. The procedure time was shortened and repeat examinations were eliminated with the cine method. Consideration of this technique in evaluating aortic dissection is recommended.

Aortic Dissection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Digital subtraction versus film-screen angiography for detecting acute pulmonary emboli: evaluation in a porcine model.

PURPOSE: To compare the diagnostic performance of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) to that of film-screen angiography (FSA) for detecting acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in a porcine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DSA and FSA were performed in 13 pigs before and after central venous administration of autologous emboli. Results were compared to findings at necropsy with use of ex vivo pulmonary angiography to guide pathologic sectioning. The sensitivity and predictive value of a positive case for detecting each embolus were computed for each pulmonary artery branch order and compared with use of 95% confidence intervals. Interobserver variability among three readers for individual PE detection was calculated. RESULTS: Pathologic examination of the lungs revealed 100 total PEs (location by vessel order: 1st = 1, 2nd = 0, 3rd = 15, 4th = 32, > 5th = 52). On average, FSA review identified 72 (72%) emboli and DSA review, 65 (65%). There was no significant difference in sensitivity or predictive value of a positive case between DSA and FSA for detecting emboli (P > .05). There was similar agreement among readers for individual PE detection with DSA (mean, 84%) and FSA (mean, 80%). CONCLUSION: The diagnostic performance of DSA is equivalent to that of FSA for detecting emboli in porcine PA branches. Interobserver agreement for individual PE detection is similar for both imaging techniques.

Angiography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Diagnosis of congenital absence of left pericardium by MR imaging.

Congenital absence of the pericardium, whether partial or total, is a rare abnormality. It can be very difficult to diagnose clinically as well as to confirm radiographically. Plain film fluoroscopy and CT have been shown to be of value in differentiating this entity from others with similar findings. We report a case in which magnetic resonance was utilized to confirm the diagnosis and the findings of this new technique are described.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CT diagnosis of type A aortic dissections not demonstrated by aortography.

False-negative aortography in a patient with a type A dissection is an unusual and serious diagnostic error. We report three cases of type A thoracic dissections with negative aortography but positive CT or magnetic resonance. The factors that might account for this discrepancy and the implications in the evaluation of these patients are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Metastatic involvement of the heart and pericardium: CT and MR imaging.

Metastases to the heart and pericardium are much more common than primary cardiac tumors and are generally associated with a poor prognosis. Tumors that are most likely to involve the heart and pericardium include cancers of the lung and breast, melanoma, and lymphoma. Tumor may involve the heart and pericardium by one of four pathways: retrograde lymphatic extension, hematogenous spread, direct contiguous extension, or transvenous extension. Metastatic involvement of the heart and pericardium may go unrecognized until autopsy. Impairment of cardiac function occurs in approximately 30% of patients and is usually attributable to pericardial effusion. The clinical presentation includes shortness of breath, which may be out of proportion to radiographic findings in patients with pericardial effusion or may be the result of associated pleural effusion. Patients may also present with cough, anterior thoracic pain, pleuritic chest pain, or peripheral edema. The differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion in a patient with known malignancy includes malignant pericardial effusion, radiation-induced pericarditis, drug-induced pericarditis, and idiopathic pericarditis. Any disease process that causes thickening or nodularity of the pericardium or myocardium or masses within the cardiac chambers can mimic metastatic disease.

Diagnosis, Differential↗