Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Acar

Publications and source records attributed to J Acar.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

[Transesophageal echography. Value of the technic apropos of a preliminary experiment in 320 patients (385 examinations)].

The authors discuss the clinical utility and feasibility of trans-esophageal echocardiography. Between April and October 1988, 385 examinations were performed in 320 patients (mean age: 54 yr, range: 17-89). In 9 patients (2.4 p. 100), the transesophageal transducer could not be introduced. The only complication was one case of bacteremia without sequela, that occurred early in our use of this technique. Transesophageal echocardiography proved to be useful in the following indications: mitral stenosis (n = 50), mainly by detecting thromboses of the left atrium (n = 5); infectious endocarditis (n = 21), especially for diagnosing aortic ring abscesses (n = 3); severe mitral insufficiency (n = 26), to assess the mechanism of regurgitation and to visualize chordal rupture (n = 13). We conclude from this preliminary study that transesophageal echocardiography is particularly useful in the pathologies described above as a complementary procedure to conventional echocardiography.

Adolescent↗

[Sensitivity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella spp. to ceftazidime. Current status in France].

Ceftazidime was tested against 2,224 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa obtained from 17 hospitals in April, May and June, 1986 and against 607 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 234 strains of K. oxytoca obtained from 16 hospitals in October, 1987. The MIC's of ceftazidime against P. aeruginosa were distributed normally, with an MIC50 of 2 mg/l and an MIC90 of 4 mg/l. Depending on critical concentrations, 80 per cent of strains were sensitive, 11.4 per cent were of intermediate sensitivity and 0.54 per cent were resistant. There were few differences in results between hospitals. Ninety-two per cent of resistant strains and 45 per cent of intermediate strains (as opposed to 6 per cent of all strains) produced a high-level constitutive cephalosporinase with little variations between centres. The MIC's of ceftazidime against K. pneumoniae and K. oxytoca had a bimodal distribution: 91 per cent of strains were sensitive to 0.25 mg/l, 6 per cent of strains showed intermediate sensitivity and 3 per cent were resistant. All intermediate and resistant strains produced a very broad spectrum beta-lactamase which hydrolyzed some of the third generation cephalosporins: K. pneumoniae 36 CTX-1, 5 SHV-2, and 14 strains producing a recently identified beta-lactamase "CAZ-5/SHV-4"; K. oxytoca 3 CTX-1. These strains were isolated in 10 of the 16 hospitals which took part in the 1987 study. Comparison of these results with those of studies performed in 1984 and 1985 showed a moderate increase in the number of intermediate sensitivity strains of P. aeruginosa and the occasional occurrence, of the epidemic type, in some hospitals of Klebsiella spp. producing very broad spectrum beta-lactamases which were rare in 1985.

Ceftazidime↗

Prognosis and long-term results of surgically treated aortic stenosis.

A total of 675 patients (mean age 60 +/- 11 years, range 22-85, 71% males) with calcified pure aortic stenosis (490) or mixed lesions (185) had an aortic prosthesis: 290 Starr-Edwards, 147 Bjork, 18 other mechanical valves, 163 pericardial xenografts, 57 porcine xenografts; 76 patients simultaneously underwent a coronary bypass, 12 a replacement of ascending aorta, and six a mitral valvuloplasty. Preoperatively, 67% were in functional class III or IV (NYHA); 69.5% had a coronary arteriography: significant coronary stenosis was observed in 27% of patients. The operative mortality was 6.8% depending on the functional class at surgery, age (4.9% before 70 years, vs. 12.5% after), and the date of surgery (8.1% before 1983 vs. 3.7% after). The 10- and 15-year actuarial survival rates were 62 +/- 3% and 44 +/- 4%, respectively. No significant differences were observed between patients with pure aortic stenosis and mixed aortic lesions. In patients over 70 years, the survival rates were 71 +/- 5% at five years and 51 +/- 10% at 10 years. Age, functional class, degree of congestive heart failure, and degree of cardiomegaly were the main preoperative predictors of late death. At 10 years, 88% of patients were free from myocardial dysfunction, 87% from thromboembolic events, and 89% from haemorrhages. We conclude that in this type of valvulopathy, short- and long-term surgical results are good despite the fact that most patients are elderly and in an advanced functional class.

Adult↗

Treatment of calcified aortic stenosis: surgery or percutaneous transluminal aortic valvuloplasty?

A total of 546 patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) were retrospectively reviewed to assess the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty (PTV) and valve replacement (VR). Of these, 490 underwent VR between 1968 and 1986 (mean age 62 +/- 12 years, 71.7% were in NYHA class III or IV), 68.8% received mechanical prostheses, and in 11.8% a bypass graft was associated. The operative mortality was 6.9% (4% since 1983). The mean follow-up was 57.6 months. The actuarial survival rate was 77% at five years, 60% at 10 years, and 40% at 15 years. Over 70 years of age, operative mortality was 6.2% since 1983, and the actuarial survival rate was 67.5% at five years. From February 1986 to May 1987, PTV was attempted in 56 patients and was effective in 52 patients (mean age 79 +/- 5 years, 93% in Class III or IV). Immediate mortality was 7.1%. The morbidity was due to tamponade (1.8%), myocardial infarction (3.6%), vascular trauma (5.3%), or cerebrovascular accident (9%). Forty three patients were followed after PTV (mean value 4.2 +/- 3, range 1-14 months): 12 patients (28%) died and 46% were functionally improved in NYHA Class II. PTV significantly improved the aortic valve area as shown by haemodynamics (0.49-0.75 cm2; P less than 0.0001) and these findings were corroborated by Doppler study (0.46-0.70 cm2, P less than 0.001). In conclusion, this series shows that surgery provides satisfactory results in AS with a low mortality and good long-term results, even in the elderly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Mitral calcification in aortic stenosis.

To appreciate the incidence, the promoting factors and the consequences of mitral calcification in aortic stenosis (AS), the data from 675 patients operated on for AS were reviewed. Mitral calcification was revealed by fluoroscopy, echocardiography and/or surgery. Mitral annular calcification (MAC) was observed in 169 patients (25%). In patients with MAC, females were more frequent (42.3 vs. 17.9%, P less than 0.0001), age was greater (64 vs. 58 years, P less than 10(-7)), AS was more severe (0.6 vs. 0.7 cm2, P less than 0.002), and LV walls were thicker (interventricular septum 13.5 vs. 12 mm, P less than 0.0003 posterior wall 12.8 vs. 11.9 mm, P less than 0.004). First-degree AV block was more frequent in patients with MAC but did not lead to more frequent pacemaker implantation. Mitral anterior leaflet calcification was noted in 215 patients (31.8%). When massive, it created mitral stenosis which, in one case, required later mitral replacement. Five- and ten-year actuarial survival rates were not different in patients with or without mitral calcification. We conclude that mitral calcification is frequent in AS. Promoting factors for MAC are age, severity of AS, and female gender.

Adult↗

Plasma atrial natriuretic factor and cyclic GMP in mitral stenosis treated by balloon valvulotomy. Effect of atrial fibrillation.

To study the relation between plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and cardiac pressures, we measured plasma ANF in 24 patients with mitral stenosis 30 minutes before and 20 minutes after balloon mitral valvulotomy. All patients were without physical signs of congestive heart failure. Normal sinus rhythm was present in 15 (group 1), whereas the other nine (group 2) had permanent atrial fibrillation. There were no significant differences between groups for basal mean pressures in right atrium (RA), left atrium (LA), and pulmonary artery (PA). Valvulotomy resulted in a fall in both groups (p less than 0.001) in LA and PA mean pressures, whereas heart rate, cardiac index, and RA and aorta (AO) pressures did not change significantly. Basal ANF was not different in either group in RA (240 +/- 43 vs. 266 +/- 35 pg/ml) or AO (441 +/- 92 vs. 643 +/- 70 pg/ml) but tended to be higher in group 2 in LA (428 +/- 88 vs. 682 +/- 84 pg/ml; p = 0.059) and PA (488 +/- 93 vs. 759 +/- 92 pg/ml; p = 0.057). Plasma ANF was the highest in PA, and about 50% ANF was extracted in the systemic circulation. After valvulotomy, plasma ANF was greater (p less than 0.05) in group 2 (372 +/- 90, 755 +/- 152, 805 +/- 134, and 707 +/- 144 pg/ml) than in group 1 (206 +/- 36, 386 +/- 47, 429 +/- 66, and 421 +/- 49 pg/ml), regardless of the site of blood collection (RA, LA, PA, and AO, respectively). PA ANF was correlated with LA pressure (p less than 0.05) in group 1 before as well as after valvulotomy, whereas there was no such correlation in group 2. Cyclic GMP (cGMP) in LA was correlated (p less than 0.01) with PA ANF in group 1, and LA cGMP (10.0 +/- 1.2 and 9.1 +/- 1.8 pmol/ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively) was higher (p less than 0.05) than PA cGMP (9.1 +/- 1.0 and 8.0 +/- 1.5 pmol/ml in groups 1 and 2, respectively) before valvulotomy, which suggests the presence of ANF receptors in the pulmonary circulation. Taken together, these results indicate that in patients in sinus rhythm with mitral stenosis, there is an increase in ANF secretion depending on LA pressure. ANF secretion is also high in patients with mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation but does not respond appropriately to changes in LA pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Aldosterone↗

[Predictive factors of coronary lesions in aortic stenosis in adults].

The frequent coexistence in adults of a tight aortic stenosis and coronary arterial lesions raises problems of therapeutic and diagnostic approach. In an attempt at selecting indications for coronary arteriography, we studied 253 patients with severe aortic stenosis who were explored by that method. 177 patients (70 p. 100) had no coronary disease (group I); 76 patients (30 p. 100) had significant coronary lesions (group II). Group II patients differed from group I patients in several respects: they were older: 65 +/- 9 years on average as against 61 +/- 9 years (p less than 0.01); there was a greater proportion of men in that group: 76 p. 100 vs 58 p. 100 (p less than 0.01); more patients had a history of myocardial infarction: 7 p. 100 vs 0.5 p. 100 (p less than 0.05); calcifications of the coronary arteries were found in 43 p. 100 of the cases as against 15 p. 100 in group I (p less than 0.001); the transvalvular pressure gradient was lower: 50 +/- 30 mmHg vs 72 +/- 31 mmHg (p less than 0.01). There were no other significant differences in risk factors between the two groups, except for overweight which was greater in group II. Attacks of angina were not statistically more frequent in group II (80 p. 100) than in group I (73 p. 100, N.S.). A multifactorial analysis enabled us to establish a discriminant relation involving the patient's age, sex and history of infarction as well as coronary calcifications.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[Hemorrhagic risk in intravenously administered thrombolytic treatment in acute myocardial infarction].

163 patients aged from 27 to 70 years (mean 52 +/- 10 years), including 152 men and 11 women, received a thrombolytic treatment within the first 6 hours (mean 192 +/- 73 mn) of a myocardial infarction. 61 patients received streptokinase (SK) intravenously (group 1), 64 patients, single-chain rt-PA (group 2), 11 patients, two-chain rt-PA (group 3), 11 patients, rt-PA followed by intracoronary streptokinase (group 4), and 16 patients, acyl enzyme (group 5). In addition, all patients had heparin and 86 (53%) had aspirin. Immediately after thrombolysis, coronary arteriography was performed in 95 patients (58%), and this was followed by transluminal angioplasty in 49 of them (30%). The infarction was either anterior (n = 81) or inferior (n = 78) or lateral (n = 4). No fatal or neurological bleeding occurred. 17 haemorrhagic complications were observed; 5 of these (3%) were severe, requiring blood transfusion and, in 1 case, surgery; 12 were significant (7.4%) and produced changes in haematocrit. Nine of the 17 haemorrhages were associated with catheterization and localized to the site of arterial puncture. Severe bleeding occurred in patients treated with intravenous SK (3/61) or with rt-PA followed by intracoronary SK (2/11). There was a significant difference in the incidence of spontaneous bleeding between the SK group (4/61) and the single-chain rt-PA group (0/64; p less than 0.05). In the latter group, the minimum fibrinogen level was lower in patients who had a haemorrhagic complication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

[Percutaneous mitral commissurotomy. Apropos of 130 cases].

In order to evaluate the effectiveness and risks of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC), we tried this procedure in 130 patients. Nine attempts were unsuccessful due to pre-PMC complications (haemopericardium 2, air embolism 1) or to technical failure (6 cases, 5 of which occurred in the first 15 attempts). PMC could be performed in 121 patients: 88 women and 33 men aged from 13 to 79 years (mean 42 + 15 years); 22 patients had previously been operated upon, 5 had a history of embolism, 99 were in functional stage III or IV. Echocardiography divided these patients into 3 groups: 29 had calcified leaflets (group 1), 42 had flexible leaflets and little alteration of the subvalvar system (group 2), and 49 had flexible leaflets with alteration of the subvalvar system (group 3). Mitral regurgitation grade 1/4 was present in 32 cases. PMC was performed with one balloon (Trefoil 3 x 12 mm) in 14 patients and therafter with two balloons (Trefoil 3 x 10 mm plus conventional 15 or 19 mm balloon) in 107 patients. PMC resulted in significant improvement in haemodynamic values: the mean capillary pressure fell from 20 +/- 7 to 11 +/- 5 mmHg (p less than 0.0001) and the mean mitral gradient from 16 +/- 6 to 6 +/- 2 mmHg (p less than 0.0001), while the cardiac index rose from 2.7 +/- 0.6 to 3.1 +/- 0.7 l/mn/m2 (p less than 0.001) and the mitral valve area (MVA) from 1.1 +/- 0.2 to 2.2 +/- 0.5 cm2 (p less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

[Percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty of the mitral valve].

Percutaneous transluminal balloon valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis represents an alternative method of treatment to standard surgical procedures of open or closed commissurotomy as well as valve replacement. In this overview, our results will be reported with respect to derivation of a summary of indications and contraindications for the procedure. Valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis was carried out in 62 patients, mean age 43 +/- 17 years, 48 women and 14 men. In 14 of the patients surgical procedures had been performed previously including an open or closed commissurotomy or isolated aortic valve replacement. Nine patients were in NYHA class II, 50 in class III and three in class IV. Markedly impaired motion of the valve and calcification was present in 15 patients. In 47 patients, the valve motion was relatively good and associated with mild changes in the subvalvular apparatus in 29 and marked changes in 18. In 54 patients the valvuloplasty was carried out with a combination of two balloon catheters, one 3 X 10 mm trefoil catheter and a single-balloon catheter of 15 mm (n = 16) or 19 mm (n = 38) diameter. Both catheters were inserted via the right femoral vein. The procedure required an average of one and one-half hours. Before and after valvuloplasty, complete right heart catheterization with oxymetric determinations were carried out to detect possible shunts at the atrial level and left ventriculography for detection of mitral regurgitation was performed in addition to echocardiography and Doppler examinations with continuous, pulsed-wave and color Doppler studies.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Value of qualitative angiographic grading in aortic regurgitation.

The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of angiographic grading of regurgitation in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR). In 204 adult patients (149 men, 55 women, aged 51 +/- 13 years) with AR, the forward cardiac index was measured by the indicator dilution technique, and the left ventricular angiographic index by the area length method, from which the regurgitant stroke index and the percentage of regurgitation were calculated. In 80 other patients without regurgitation, there was a good correlation between forward and angiographic cardiac indices (r = 0.83, P less than 0.001). Aortic regurgitation graded on a 1-4 scale was, in the 204 patients with AR, correlated with the percentage and the volume of regurgitation (respectively r = 0.87, P less than 0.001 and r = 0.92, P less than 0.001). The regurgitant stroke index and the percentage of regurgitation were significantly different from one group to another (P less than 0.001). However, there was a range in amount of regurgitation within each grade and an overlap from one grade to another. There were no differences in regurgitant stroke index or in the percentage of regurgitation when patients were categorized according to LV end-diastolic or endsystolic volume, LV ejection fraction, forward cardiac index or intracardiac pressure.

Adolescent↗

Combined aortic, mitral and tricuspid surgery: results in 78 patients.

Between 1968 and 1984, 78 patients (mean age 43, range 14 to 65 years) underwent combined aortic, mitral and tricuspid surgery (22 triple valve replacements, 56 aortic valve replacements with tricuspid conservative surgery and mitral valve replacement (N = 48), or commissuroplasty (N = 8). Pre-operative consequences of valvular disease (mainly mixed valve disease) were severe as assessed by functional class (72 pts in III or IV NYHA), cardiomegaly (CTR: 62 +/- 6%), increase of mean pulmonary arterial and wedge pressures (respectively 30 +/- 12 and 19 +/- 6 mmHg) decrease in cardiac index (2.1 +/- 0.5 l min-1 m-2), LV dilatation (LV end diastolic volume: 184 +/- 86 ml m-2) and impairment of LV systolic function (LV ejection fraction: 50 +/- 12%). Operative mortality rate was 11.5%. The 69 survivors were all followed up, for a mean of 56 months (2 to 207). 16 late deaths occurred. Actuarial survival rate at 10 years was 58.4%, and greatly influenced by pre-operative NYHA class. Linearized rates of thromboembolic events, valve thrombosis and haemorrhage were respectively 6.4, 1.5 and 1.2% pt-1 yr-1. Those of infective endocarditis, periprosthetic leak, reoperation and valve failure were 0.6, 3.3 and 4.9% pt-1 yr-1 respectively. At 9 years, 42% of the patients were in NYHA class I or II and free from complications.

Adolescent↗

Biological study of intravenous anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex in acute myocardial infarction.

An anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC) has been administered as a bolus intravenous injection of 30U to 14 patients with acute myocardial infarction. Systemic effects on coagulation and fibrinolysis were studied. In 1 patient, the treatment produced no biological modification, which could be explained by an increased streptokinase resistance in this patient, apparent from the sample collected before treatment. In the other patients, as expected, fibrinogen, plasminogen, alpha 2-antiplasmin and factors V and VIIIc fell dramatically, while there was an increase in serum fibrinogen degradation product concentrations. In addition, plasma fibrin derivatives increased during APSAC therapy, both in patients who had occluded or patent coronary arteries. Discrepancies were found between methods used to measure fibrinogen: with the Ellis and Stransky method, concentrations were higher than with the Clauss method; and for plasminogen, automated methods using different analysers may give higher results in some patients.

Adult↗

[Results of valvular replacement in chronic or paucisymptomatic aortic insufficiency. Apropos of 79 patients].

The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of 79 patients operated for chronic, pure, severe aortic incompetence with little or no symptoms (Grades I or II of the NYHA Classification). The average age of the patients was 42 years (range 14 to 76 years) and the average follow-up period was 59.4 months (range 3 to 190 months). The preoperative left ventricular volumes on angiography were: end diastolic volume 224 +/- 47 ml/m2, end systolic volume 121 +/- 39 ml/m2. The ejection fraction was 48 +/- 10 p. 100. Forty two mechanical prostheses and 37 bioprostheses were implanted. There were no operative deaths. The 8 year survival rate was 87 p. 100. Ninety four per cent of the survivors remained asymptomatic; 91 p. 100 have had no thromboembolic complications and 90 p. 100 have not been reoperated. The incidence of myocardial dysfunction was 8.8 p. 100 during this period. The most significant poor prognostic factor was a preoperative ejection fraction of less than 40 p. 100. These results show that early surgery in patients with aortic incompetence and little or no symptoms has a low operative risk and a low incidence of late myocardial dysfunction despite severe left ventricular dilatation with decreased left ventricular function.

Adolescent↗

[Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency. Apropos of a case treated by conservative surgery].

Traumatic tricuspid insufficiency is a rare condition which raises the problem of when and how should its surgical correction be performed. Its diagnosis has been considerably facilitated by echocardiography. We report a case of traumatic tricuspid insufficiency with extensive lesions of the tricuspid valve system, which was diagnosed after a 15-year period without functional signs. Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasounds provided very accurate information on the lesions. Optimal correction was obtained by conservative surgery. The excellent results observed at short and medium term suggest that surgical indications should be extended.

Accidents, Traffic↗