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Biomedical subjects

G M Actis Dato

Publications and source records attributed to G M Actis Dato.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Surgical treatment of massive pulmonary embolism. A case report.

Pulmonary embolism is a serious complication following trauma and bed rest and it represents a challenge in the prompt diagnosis and medical or surgical therapy. We present a surgically treated patient with a massive pulmonary embolism (more than 50% of the vascular pulmonary bed) which occurred after an inferior leg trauma which required a prolonged bed immobilization. We believe surgical intervention is the treatment of choice in patients with massive pulmonary embolism who do not respond to fibrinolytic therapy. Moreover prompt surgical embolectomy is mandatory to have more chances to save the patient's life.

Adult↗

The seagull wing self retaining prosthesis in the surgical treatment of pectus excavatum.

BACKGROUND: Between June 1958 and June 1996 we operated many patients affected by pectus excavatum with an original surgical technique. In this study we evaluated the durability of the results. METHODS EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Retrospective study with a mean follow-up time of 15.8 years/pt, and 60% complete. SETTING: private and institutional practice. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: 357 patients (253 males and 104 females, mean age = 18.2+/-5.1 years) affected by pectus excavatum. The grade of PE (Chin classification) was I in 76 patients, II in 165 and III in the remaining 116. Most of the patients required operation for aesthetic reasons only (339 patients; 95%). INTERVENTION: the surgical technique consisted of a double transversal sternotomy at the level of the lowest and highest part of the depression associated with a longitudinal sternotomy. A wedge resection of the ribs was then performed and the sternum was fixed using an original stainless steel strut prosthesis moulded into a seagull wing. The strut was removed 12 months postimplantation. RESULTS: There were no operative deaths. Four patients (1.2%) had sternal wound infection, which was successfully treated. From the aesthetic point of view, the postoperative results were excellent in 262 patients (73.4%), good in 82 (22.9%) and poor in 13 (3.6%). All subjective symptoms, when present, disappeared after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The seagull wing prosthesis appears to be safe, easy to implant and to remove, and comfortable for the patient. This technique has shown good long-term results independently of type of deformity and patient age.

Adolescent↗

Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave valve: is a prophylactic re-replacement justified?

BACKGROUND: The Bjork-Shiley convexo-concave (BS-CC) heart valves represent the improved model of the standard valve first introduced with a different design of the disc valve to ameliorate hemodynamic performances and reduce thromboembolic complications. About 86,000 BS-CC were implanted during 1979-1986 and of them a small number developed an intrinsic dysfunction resulting in sudden death. METHODS: From 1979 to 1986 we implanted in 117 patients (48 males, 69 females, mean age 46.35+/-12.47, range 8-65 years) 125 BS-CC. In 38.5% (45/117) of the cases heart valve replacement represented the second cardiac procedure after a previous closed heart digital commissurotomy. The mean size of the implanted prosthesis was 25.6+/-2.8 for aortic valve and 29.5+/-1.2 for mitral valve. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 4.27% (5/117) and survival rate at 10 years is 71.4% and at 17 years 54.7% (Kaplan-Meier). At follow-up causes of death proved valve related in most of the patients but with no evidence of valve fracture. We had 1 case of sudden death in patients at high risk (largest size, aortic position) and 30 cases of death by unknown causes but they did not have an autopsy to confirm the cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that in our population with BS-CC at the moment there is no indication for prophylactic replacement because of the higher risks of a reoperation (third or fourth in the 35.4% of our patients) than a strut fracture. Nevertheless we believe an autopsy mandatory in all these patients at risk, when sudden death occurs.

Adolescent↗

Left atrial approach to big myxoma with angiographically visible neovascularity. Report of one case.

In this article, we report a 65-year-old man with a large atrial myxoma arising from the posterior wall and from the base of the right inferior pulmonary vein. The big neoplastic mass showed a large implant site. A rare atrial myxoma neovascularity arising from the atrial circumflex artery was very clearly visualized by selective coronary arteriography. The surgical approach used to resect this tumor was an isolated left atriotomy that provided excellent exposure and safe excision.

Aged↗

Bovine pericardial bioprosthesis in mitral position. A ten-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The pericardial bovine prosthesis Pericarbon should offer some advantages in comparison with the former generations, because its development is focused on solving previous problems and resulted in the variation of the pericardial fixation method, of valve structure and of stent coating. This hypothesis was evaluated through a retrospective follow-up. METHODS: Between 1985 and 1989, 78 Pericarbon prostheses O 29 were implanted in mitral position by the same surgeon. All patients received warfarin for the first three months to maintain an International Normalized Ratio between 2.5 and 3.5; after which they received antiaggregant therapy indefinitely. With an average follow-up period of 7.34 years for a total of 573 patient-years, we evaluated perioperative and late mortality, late morbidity (thromboembolic and haemorrhagic events, reoperations, primary tissue failures, endocarditic events) and patient clinical conditions. RESULTS: Perioperative mortality was 1.28% (1/78), late mortality was 11.6% (9/77) with 5 valve-related deaths. 5-year survival was 93% and 10-year survival 97%. Fifteen patients required reoperation for prosthetic replacement, fourteen for primary tissue failure. There were ten minor thromboembolic events, one major event, one haemorrhage and one prosthetic endocarditis (the last two with patient exitus). After 10 years (75% of patients were in New York Heart Association class I-II. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the known better haemodynamic performance, Pericarbon bioprosthesis seems to present a survival and redofreedom curve comparable to the best porcine prosthesis, with less incidence of endocarditis, thromboembolic events and prosthesis leakage.

Aged↗

Atrial septal defect and pregnancy: a retrospective analysis of obstetrical outcome before and after surgical correction.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To describe the obstetrical outcome and long-term cardiac follow-up of a group of patients who had surgery for atrial septal defect repair before pregnancy and a group who underwent pregnancy before surgical correction. DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Public Institution. PATIENTS: Eighty women (mean age 20.15 +/- 4.5 years) complaining of atrial septal defect, 60 of which had surgical correction before pregnancy and subsequently had 115 pregnancies, and 20 of which underwent pregnancy before the correction of cardiac defect and subsequently had 48 pregnancies. INTERVENTIONS: Surgical correction of atrial septal defect: 49 by open heart technique (13 with cardiopulmonary bypass, 36 with light hypothermic circulatory arrest), 11 by closed heart techniques. RESULTS: Patients who underwent pregnancy before surgery had an increased incidence of miscarriage, pre-term delivery and cardiac symptoms during pregnancy. Patients operated before pregnancy required more frequently cesarean section and pharmacological therapy. The frequency of stillbirths, malformations in the offspring and long-term cardiac complications were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical correction of atrial septal defect before pregnancy is recommended even in case of apparently well compensated hemodinamic situation for the low rate of surgical complications in spite of the higher incidence of obstetrical problems in case of medical therapy alone.

Adult↗

Twelve-year follow up with the Sorin Pericarbon bioprosthesis in the mitral position.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow up of the Pericarbon pericardial bioprosthesis implanted in the mitral position. METHODS: Between January 1985 and January 1991, 78 patients (26 males, 52 females; mean age 56.9 +/- 7.8 years) underwent isolated mitral valve replacement with a Pericarbon valve. All bioprostheses were size 29 mm and implanted by the same surgeon. RESULTS: Total follow up was 663.2 pt-years and it was 97% complete. Early mortality was 1.3% (1/78); two minor cerebral embolisms were observed as early complications. At 12 years the overall survival rate was 85.0 +/- and valve-related survival 93.1 +/- 3.0%; freedom from embolic events was 83.0 +/- 4.5% and from endocarditis 98.7 +/- 1.3%. Freedom from primary tissue failure was 56.8 +/- 6.6%; it was 86.3 +/- 7.5% in patients aged > 60 years and 36.8 +/- 8.2% in younger patients. There were 27 reoperations, 26 for primary tissue failure, one for endocarditis. Comparison between basal and follow up echocardiographic studies showed a significant stenotic deterioration of the bioprosthesis and a negligible incidence of regurgitation. Morphological findings of explanted bioprostheses were characterized by stenotic and diffuse microcalcification, but no tissue tear was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that the Pericarbon bioprosthesis is structurally safe and free from the fatigue problems which afflicted the first and second generation of pericardial valves. As with other tissue valves, the rate of calcification is age-dependent, suggesting preferential use of the Pericarbon prosthesis in elderly people.

Bioprosthesis↗

[Correlation between malfunction of a bioprosthesis and deformation of a valve stent. Comparison of three different vale models].

BACKGROUND: Stent deformation seems to be effective in the long term performances of bioprostheses. METHODS: The Inward Banding Angle (IBA) of three different models of bioprostheses explanted during the period 1991-1992 at our Division of Cardiac Surgery in 45 different patients (26 males; 9 females; mean age 59.71 +/- 10.74, range 26-75) has been measured. Explanted valves were as follow: Hancock, (H = 13); Carpentier-Edwards (C = 14) e Xenomedica (X = 18). Primary tissue failure was the most common cause of re-operation (n = 30; 66.7%) but also endocarditis (n = 6; 13.3%) and paraprothetic leak (n = 10; 22.2%). A semi-quantitative score (0-4) was used to assess calcifications (1.51 +/- 1.56); tears (0.41 +/- 0.98); vegetation's (0.51 +/- 0.99) and fibrosis (2.7 +/- 1.27). The mean follow-up was 7.77 +/- 3.79 years (range 1.5 +/- 16 years). The mean IBA evaluated after explantation was 3.34 +/- 2.29 degrees. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed a significance in term of IBA in the Hancock group vs Carpentier (P < 0.02); a less duration in the Xenomedica group vs H and C (p < 0.001) and an increased susceptibility to vegetation's and fibrosis in the Xvs C (p < 0.01) and H (p < 0.05) respectively. A suggestive correlation between IBA and time and between IBA and diameter was found but no statistical significance was observed. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusions, it is suggested that all materials tends to deform during time and a possible explanation of stent deformation can be the different material used in the stent fabrication. Moreover, mechanical stress and compression around the ring can be another mechanism of creep.

Adult↗

Williams-Beuren syndrome. Long-term results of surgical treatments in six patients.

To settle long-term outcome after surgery for supravalvular aortic stenosis in the Williams-Beuren syndrome, we reviewed the records of 6 patients who had repair of the localized form (n = 5) or diffuse form (n = 1) at our Institution from 1965 to 1971. Four patients were females and 2 males, ages at operation ranged from 9 to 16 years (mean = 13 +/- 2.37 years). In all the patients was present the typical elfin facies with mental retardation and reduced I.Q. Preoperative omeral pressure was different between left and right arm (89 +/- 7/67 +/- 8 vs 105 +/- 8/77 +/- 4). Chest X-ray showed and enlargement of the cardia silhouette in all the patients. Cardiac catheterization, performed in all the patients, allowed diagnosis of supravalvular aortic stenosis and, in one case of subaortic stenosis associated. Intraoperatively a coronary tree enlargement was found in all cases with particular involvement of the right coronary in two patients. The mean diameter of the ascending aorta was 5.67 +/- 1.97 mm but the smallest (3 mm) was in the diffuse group. In group with localized stenosis the aortic root was enlarged with a teardrop patch in Dacron (n = 4) or a simple transverse suture after a longitudinal incision (n = 1). A pantaloon-shaped patch was necessary in the diffuse form case. There were no operative deaths and all the patients were discharged from the hospital after 2 weeks. A clinical follow-up was possible in all the patients (10%) extended from 25 to 30 years (mean = 27.7 +/- 2.19 years); there were no late deaths and at presents time the mean age of the patient is 40 +/- 3 years. All patients were in functional class I or II. There was no significant difference between patients with a teardrop-shaped or pantaloon-shaped patch in terms of late gradient, survival, or aortic insufficiency studied by Echocardiography and color-Doppler. Of six patients two are living with parents or relatives but four are in a farm-college for disable people working and having some responsibility. We conclude that surgery for the correction of supravalvular aortic stenosis in Williams-Beuren syndrome is mandatory and both the procedures with patch techniques provide excellent long-term results of gradients and aortic valve competence. Moreover the patients after the operation can have a normal activity with a satisfactory style and expectation of life.

Adolescent↗