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Biomedical subjects

G C Kaiser

Publications and source records attributed to G C Kaiser.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Left coronary ostial stenosis: comparison with left main coronary artery stenosis.

We compared 147 consecutive patients who had left coronary ostial stenosis with 254 consecutive patients who had left main coronary artery stenosis treated with coronary artery bypass grafting. Mean age for the left main group was 61.6 years versus 59.7 years for the left ostial group (p = not significant [NS]). In the left ostial group, 43.5% were female and in the left main group, 12% (p less than 0.005). Prior myocardial infarction had occurred in 53% of patients with left main stenosis and 36% of patients with left ostial stenosis (p less than 0.005). There were 2.45 +/- 1.00 diseased vessels in the left main group and 1.96 +/- 1.09 in the left ostial group (p less than 0.0005). Seven (3%) of the patients with left main stenosis had no associated coronary disease (greater than 50%) versus 24 (16%) of the left ostial group (p less than 0.005). The degree of left main stenosis was 90% or more in 28.3% of patients versus 42.8% with equivalent ostial narrowing (p less than 0.01). Left ventricular function was better in the left ostial group than in the left main group (1.61 +/- 0.93 versus 2.02 +/- 1.11, respectively; p less than 0.0005). One-month mortality was 10 patients (3.9%) in the left main group and 8 (5.4%) in the left ostial group (p = NS). Perioperative infarction occurred in 8.6% of patients with left main stenosis and 4.7% of patients with left ostial stenosis (p = NS). Mean follow-up was 6.1 years for the left main group and 5.4 years for the left ostial group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aorta↗

Coronary artery bypass grafting for unstable angina pectoris: risk analysis.

Unstable angina pectoris is a broad, nonspecific diagnosis encompassing a wide variety of clinical syndromes. The intravenous administration of nitroglycerin preoperatively is indicative of a more acute clinical situation, and allows for selection and analysis of a more homogeneous patient population. We reviewed the results of coronary artery bypass grafting for unstable angina defined as angina necessitating intravenous administration of nitroglycerin preoperatively. There were 129 patients (83 men and 46 women) with a mean age of 63.2 years (range, 36 to 86 years). Complications included operative death in 6.2%, postoperative low cardiac output in 11%, and perioperative myocardial infarction in 9%. Twenty perioperative variables were analyzed to identify risk factors for these end points. For operative death, age (p less than 0.05), cross-clamp time (p less than 0.05), and cardiopulmonary bypass time (p less than 0.001) were significant in the univariate analysis, but only age (p less than 0.05, F = 4.6) was an independent predictor using multivariate analysis (stepwise linear regression). For low cardiac output, univariate analysis demonstrated that cross-clamp time (p less than 0.01), preoperative use of an intraaortic balloon for angina (p less than 0.05), left ventricular score (p less than 0.05), number of diseased coronary vessels (p less than 0.05), and cardiopulmonary bypass time (p less than 0.001) were significant variables. However, only use of an intraaortic balloon for angina (p less than 0.0001, F = 14.3) and left ventricular score (p less than 0.005, F = 11.1) were significant independent predictors in the multivariate model. For perioperative myocardial infarction, only diabetes requiring insulin (p less than 0.005) was a significant predictor.

Adult↗

Improved survival of surgically treated patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease and severe angina pectoris. A report from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) registry.

We examined survival rates during a 6-year follow-up of patients in the registry of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study who had three vessel coronary artery disease and Canadian Cardiovascular Society class III-IV angina pectoris. All patients had a stenosis of 70% or greater in either the mid or proximal segment of all three coronary arteries. There were 679 medically treated patients and 1921 surgically treated patients in this nonrandomized comparison. Patients were stratified by left ventricular wall motion score and number of proximal coronary artery stenoses; after adjustment for these variables, the estimated probability of being alive at 6 years was 82% for surgically treated patients and 59% for medically treated patients (p less than 0.0001). Among patients with the most severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular wall motion score of 16 to 30), the 6-year survival rate was 63% for surgically treated patients and 30% for medically treated patients (p less than 0.0001). Those with three proximal lesions (all gradations of left ventricular score) had an 81% 6-year survival rate with surgical treatment and 40% with medical treatment (p less than 0.0001). Ninety percent of surgically treated patients with normal ventricular function were living at 6 years and 78% of medically treated patients (p less than 0.0001). Among these patients, the survival rate was significantly better after surgical treatment than after only medical treatment if two or three proximal stenoses were present. If no proximal lesions were present (all categories of left ventricular function), 84% of surgically treated patients and 67% of medically treated patients were alive at 6 years (p less than 0.0001). In a multivariate (Cox) analysis of preoperative clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic factors, early operation was a strong predictor of survival (estimated relative risk 0.38).

Actuarial Analysis↗

Myocardial revascularization for unstable angina pectoris.

We reviewed 14 reports from 1978 to 1988 of 6,136 patients with unstable angina pectoris treated by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The mean age was 56.8 years, and 23% were female. Mean operative mortality in the 14 reports was 3.7% (1.2-8.5%). The mean incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction was 9.9% (3.8-17%). The mean incidence of postoperative low cardiac output was 16% (8-35%). No risk factors for morbidity or mortality different from those observed in patients with chronic stable angina were identified. Clinical subgroups of the heterogeneous group of patients with unstable angina pectoris are associated with different prognoses and treatment results. Variable pathological changes are associated with these subgroups. Reductions in morbidity and mortality of those patients undergoing CABG may require better preoperative management of the underlying pathological process and improved myocardial preservation at the time of CABG. Angina relief, improved survival, and reduction in late nonfatal myocardial infarction is similar to that observed in patients with chronic stable angina after CABG.

Angina Pectoris↗

Comparison of effects of medical and surgical therapy on survival in severe angina pectoris and two-vessel coronary artery disease with and without left ventricular dysfunction: a Coronary Artery Surgery Study Registry Study.

This nonrandomized study compared the results of early coronary artery bypass grafting to those of initial medical therapy in a group of 2,023 patients with severe angina pectoris and 2 major epicardial coronary arteries having greater than or equal to 70% diameter luminal narrowing. Medical therapy was selected for 706 patients, and 1,317 patients were treated by coronary artery bypass grafting. The 6-year survival rate was 76% for patients treated medically and 89% for patients treated surgically (p less than 0.0001). Cox multivariate analysis showed that surgical treatment was a beneficial independent predictor of survival (p less than 0.001). For patients with 2-vessel coronary artery disease who had Canadian Heart Association class III and IV angina at presentation, surgical therapy provided a survival advantage for patients with impaired left ventricular function and proximal narrowing of 1 or more coronary arteries.

Acute Disease↗

Surgical closure of atrial septal defect in patients older than 50 years of age.

Between 1962 and 1986, 51 patients 50 years of age or older (mean, 59.7 years; range, 50 to 77 years) underwent operative closure of atrial septal defect. The mean pulmonary vascular resistance was 1.7 +/- 0.79 wood units and the mean pulmonary blood flow-systemic blood flow ratio was 2.8 +/- 1.4. Patch closure with pericardium or Dacron was performed in 36 patients (70%), while 15 patients (30%) underwent primary closure. There were no operative deaths, and one patient was not available for follow-up. The remaining 50 patients (98%) have been followed up for 0.5 to 25 years (mean, 9.6 years). Mean preoperative New York Heart Association classification was 2.40 +/- 0.70. This improved significantly to 1.21 +/- 0.42 at follow-up, with all patients improving by at least one category. No patient received long-term anticoagulation treatment, and no pulmonary or systemic emboli were identified. Two (13%) of 15 patients who underwent primary closure developed septal dehiscence. Actuarial survival was 93%, 86%, and 79% at 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. Atrial septal defect closure can be safely performed in older patients with excellent results, provided the ratio of systemic to pulmonary blood flow is greater than or equal to 1.5 to 1.0, the pulmonary vascular resistance is low, and the shunt remains left to right. Primary closure should be discouraged, and postoperative anticoagulation therapy appears unwarranted.

Aged↗

The changing profile of the patient undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery.

The first 100 consecutive patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass surgery in 1975 were evaluated with respect to the incidence of operative risk factors and outcome. When compared with an identically selected group from 1985, there was significant worsening of the preoperative condition over the decade with regard to mean age (p less than 0.0005), presence of congestive heart failure (p less than 0.05), left ventricular dysfunction (p less than 0.05), severity of coronary artery disease (p less than 0.001) and incidence of emergency operation (p less than 0.05). More patients in 1985 had associated medical diseases such as diabetes (p less than 0.01) and chronic lung disease (p less than 0.005). There was an increase in the occurrence of vascular diseases (hypertension, renal dysfunction, peripheral vascular and cerebrovascular disease) (p less than 0.05). Overall operative mortality increased from 1 to 8% (p less than 0.05) over the decade. Despite the deterioration in the clinical profile of the patient undergoing coronary bypass surgery, elective procedures were still performed with low mortality. The significant increase in overall mortality was chiefly in patients undergoing emergency operation (p less than 0.05). There were also increases in operative morbidity including low output syndrome (p less than 0.01) and respiratory (p less than 0.005) and neurologic (p = 0.06) complications.

Age Factors↗

Coronary ostial stenosis.

From January 1970 to December 1986, 2.7% (228/8509) of all patients having coronary artery bypass grafting had atherosclerotic coronary ostial stenosis of 50% or more. There were 126 males (55%) and 102 females (45%) with mean ages of 60.2 +/- 9.0 and 59.2 +/- 10.2 years (P = NS), respectively. The left ostium was involved in 176 (77.2%) patients, the right in 41 (18.0%) and both in 11 (4.8%). Isolated ostial stenosis (no associated coronary disease of 50% or more) was present in 38/228 (17%) with females predominating (29/38, 76%). Isolated ostial stenosis occurred more frequently on the right (10/41, 25%) than on the left (18/176, 16%). Associated coronary disease occurred in a single vessel in 42 patients, in two vessels in 72 and in three vessels in 76 resulting in a mean of 2.0 diseased vessels per patient. If patients with isolated ostial stenosis are excluded there were 2.3 diseased arteries per patient. There were 687 grafts performed in these patients, an average of 2.3 grafts per patient. One month surgical mortality was 4.8% (11/228), but has been 2% (2/104) in the last 4 years. Nine of 27 late deaths were noncardiac with a mean follow-up of 49 +/- 44 months. Ostial stenosis is hemodynamically equivalent to left main disease when the left ostium is involved. Symptomatic ostial lesions, whether right or left, require operative therapy.

Adult↗

Seven years' experience with the Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device.

Of currently available methods for mechanical circulatory support, the Pierce-Donachy external pneumatic ventricular assist device has proved to be one of the most versatile and effective. Since 1981, 48 patients, aged 15 to 71 years (mean 43.0), with profound cardiogenic shock refractory to conventional therapy with drugs and intra-aortic balloon support, were supported with the Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device. There were four patient groups. The largest group consisted of 30 patients with cardiogenic shock after cardiac operations. Nine required left ventricular support, six needed right ventricular support plus an intraaortic balloon pump, and 15 had biventricular support. Duration of support ranged from 3 hours to 22 days (mean 3.6 days). Eight of the first 11 patients died in the operating room of bleeding and/or biventricular failure. However, 16 patients, (53%) had improved cardiac function, 15 (50%) were weaned, and 11 (36%) were discharged. Of the last 19 patients, 47% survived. Frequent factors in nonsurvivors were myocardial infarction (75%) and renal failure (90%). Common complications in all patients were bleeding (52%) and infection (27%). The second group consisted of 11 patients with end-stage cardiomyopathy or acute myocardial infarction in whom the Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist device was used as a bridge to transplantation (left ventricular support, four patients; biventricular support, seven patients). Renal failure, infection, or coagulopathy that precluded transplantation developed in five patients. Five patients were supported for 8 hours to 75 days (mean 20.7 days) before undergoing successful transplantation, with one late death (six months) from rejection owing to noncompliance. One has subsequently undergone successful transplantation after 84 days of support. The third group consisted of four patients, aged 40 to 56 years (means 47.2), who had refractory cardiogenic shock after cardiac transplantation caused by pulmonary hypertension (two patients), hyperacute rejection (one patient), or graft failure (one patient). Despite biventricular support in all four (biventricular assist devices, two patients; right ventricular assist device plus intraaortic balloon pump, two patients), all died of infection and/or renal failure after 12 hours to 6 days (mean 3.4 days) of support. The final group consisted of three patients, aged 36 to 51 years (mean 45), with cardiogenic shock caused by acute myocardial infarction. One patient was supported with biventricular assist devices (3.5 days) and two patients were supported with a left ventricular assist device (8.5 and 15 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Time to first new myocardial infarction in patients with severe angina and three-vessel disease comparing medical and early surgical therapy: a CASS registry study of survival.

We compared time to first new myocardial infarction during a 6-year follow-up in patients in the registry of the Coronary Artery Surgery Study who had three-vessel coronary artery disease and Canadian Cardiovascular Society Class III-IV angina pectoris. There were 679 medically treated patients and 1921 surgically treated patients in this nonrandomized comparison. A broad definition of myocardial infarction incorporating electrocardiographic and clinical criteria was used to include as many new infarctions as possible. Patients were stratified by left ventricular wall motion score and number of proximal coronary artery stenoses; after adjustment for these variables, 86% of surgical and 73% of medical patients were free of new myocardial infarction at 6 years (p less than 0.0001). This advantage of surgical treatment was observed in subgroups of patients with at least one proximal 70% (or greater) stenosis in the left anterior descending coronary artery and moderate or severe impairment of left ventricular function, as well as those patients with two proximal coronary artery narrowings. In a multivariate (Cox) analysis of preoperative clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic factors, early operation was the strongest predictor of freedom from new myocardial infarction.

Angina Pectoris↗

Coronary artery bypass for recent infarction. Predictors of mortality.

The role of coronary artery bypass (CAB) surgery in patients with recent myocardial infarction remains controversial. To more clearly define the operative risks, we reviewed 336 patients who underwent isolated CAB within 30 days of infarction. There were 129 patients with stable or no angina (Group 1), 163 with angina at rest (Group 2), 21 with angina requiring intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation for pain control (Group 3), and 23 with severe postinfarction ischemia or extension complicated by cardiogenic shock (Group 4). There were 26 (7.7%) deaths overall. The mortality was 2.3% in Group 1, 6.1% in Group 2, 9.5% in Group 3, and 47.8% in Group 4. Univariate analysis (Student's t and chi 2 tests) and multivariate analysis (stepwise logistic regression model) were performed on 17 variables: age, gender, clinical Group (1-4), number of diseased vessels, presence of left main artery disease, left ventricular wall-motion score, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, presence of mitral insufficiency, extent of infarction (subendocardial vs. transmural), interval from infarction to CAB, number of distal anastomoses performed, preoperative hemodynamic status, aortic cross-clamp time, and total cardiopulmonary bypass time. Only advanced age (p = 0.002), left ventricular wall-motion score (p = 0.004), and clinical group (p = 0.048) proved to be independent predictors of mortality by multivariate analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Coronary artery bypass surgery in patients aged 80 years or older.

Between August 1980 and January 1986, 23 patients aged 80 years or older underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) operations. These patients had a higher incidence of severe left main coronary artery narrowing (p less than 0.0001), 3-vessel coronary artery disease (p less than 0.05) and moderate to severe left ventricular dysfunction (p less than 0.05) than patients in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study registry older than 65 years. Of 14 patients undergoing elective simple CABG procedures, none died; of 19 elective cases overall, 2 patients died (11%). Three of 4 patients undergoing emergency procedures (75%) and 4 of 6 patients (67%) requiring intraaortic balloon counterpulsation died. Significant complications occurred in 9 of 18 survivors (50%). All operative survivors improved at least 1 New York Heart Association class, with a mean classification improvement of 3.7 to 1.6 (p less than 0.0001); 13 of 16 long-term survivors were in class I or II. Actuarial survival at 1 and 2 years is 94% and 82%, respectively. CABG can be performed electively in octogenarian patients with increased but acceptable mortality and morbidity risks. Functional improvement and long-term survival are excellent.

Aged↗

Primary repair of traumatic aortic disruption.

From 1979 to 1985, 22 patients (18 male) underwent repair of acute traumatic rupture of the aorta. Ages ranged from 15 to 75 years (mean, 35 years). All patients sustained deceleration injuries in automobile accidents. The majority had injuries to multiple systems and evidence of mediastinal widening on routine chest roentgenograms. Aortography confirmed transection in the descending thoracic aorta near the ligamentum arteriosum in 20. Primary repair was achieved in 15 patients; it was performed in the last 10 consecutive patients. Seven patients had repair with a prosthetic graft. Survival was 82%. Postoperative morbidity usually was related to associated injuries. Primary repair of aortic transection can be accomplished in most patients without the use of prosthetic material.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Time to first new myocardial infarction in patients with mild angina and three-vessel disease comparing medicine and early surgery: a CASS registry study of survival. Coronary Artery Surgery Study.

Two categories--patients alive and free from new myocardial infarction (MI) and time to first new MI (nonfatal and fatal)--were compared in medical and early surgical groups in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) registry with Class I or II angina and three-vessel disease in a six-year follow-up. There were 413 in the medical group and 443 in the early surgical group. A broad definition of MI using ECG and clinical criteria on hospital discharge and follow-up was used to include as many new MIs as possible, including perioperative MIs. Stratification was by left ventricular wall motion score and number of proximal segment stenoses and by quintile of propensity score to reduce selection bias in therapy groups. Adjusted by propensity analysis, 79% of medical and 88% of surgical patients (p = .005) were free from new MI; death without diagnosis of new MI was censored. Similarly adjusted, 57% of medical and 76% of surgical patients (p less than .0001) were alive and free from new MI at six years. For patients with previous MI, surgery offered the probability of protection from new MI: with multiple prior MIs, 66% of medical and 88% of surgical patients were free from new MI at six years (p = .0019). This is a nonrandomized, observational study with the limitations of such studies: the need to adjust for differences in baseline traits in medical and surgical groups and the unknown effects of unobserved variables. Fifty-one variables, including therapy, were tested by Cox model with time to new MI as the end point. Early surgery was the strongest independent predictor of freedom from new MI (p = .002) with a relative risk of 51% compared with medical therapy (95% confidence limits of 33 to 78%). In patients with multiple prior MIs, the new MI risk with early surgery was 24% of that for medicine, with an upper 95% confidence point of 64%.

Angina Pectoris↗

Medical versus early surgical therapy in patients with triple-vessel disease and mild angina pectoris: a CASS registry study of survival.

Results of coronary artery bypass grafting were evaluated in 856 nonrandomized patients in the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) registry with mild angina (Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classes I and II) and three-vessel disease, defined as 70% or more stenosis in the proximal or middle segment of the three major coronary arteries. There were 413 patients with medical therapy and 443 with early operation. Patients with delayed operation were kept in the medical group for analysis. Six-year survival adjusted for left ventricular (LV) function and number of proximal stenoses was 67% for medical and 84% for surgical patients (p less than 0.0001). Patients with normal LV function had equal survival with medicine or surgical intervention. Those with mild or moderate LV dysfunction (CASS LV wall motion score 6 to 9 and 10 to 15, respectively) and at least one proximal stenosis (the dominant right coronary artery) had increased probability of being alive at six years with surgical treatment. In patients with severe LV impairment (LV score higher than 15) and in those whose only proximal stenosis of 70% or more (in three-vessel disease) was located in the left anterior descending coronary artery, increased survival with surgical treatment could not be demonstrated. This is a nonrandomized observational study with the limitations of such studies: the need to adjust for differences in baseline traits between medical and surgical groups and the possibility of an unrecognized imbalance in baseline characteristics. In a Cox analysis of variables influencing outcome, early surgical treatment was an independent predictor of survival with 43% the risk of medical treatment (95% confidence range: 29 to 62%). Adjustment by propensity analysis to reduce selection bias from known differences in baseline variables did not alter results.

Angina Pectoris↗

CABG: lessons from the randomized trials.

Three large cooperative randomized trials have evaluated the effects of medical and surgical management of ischemic heart disease on survival and other secondary end points. Both randomized and observational data from these trials show increased survival following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with left main coronary artery stenosis, triple-vessel disease, double-vessel disease, left ventricular (LV) functional impairment, or LV aneurysm. The incidence of fatal, but not nonfatal, myocardial infarction is reduced by CABG. Results in patients 65 years of age or older are similar to those in younger patients but are influenced by associated disease. Gainful employment and risk factors are uninfluenced by treatment. Symptoms of congestive heart failure were not improved by CABG alone but were improved by LV aneurysmectomy when this was performed.

Adult↗