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Biomedical subjects

J C Stauffer

Publications and source records attributed to J C Stauffer.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Complications and follow-up after intracoronary stenting: critical analysis of a 6-year single-center experience.

From April 1986 through April 1992, 123 patients received 153 intracoronary stents (131 Medinvent, 13 Palmaz-Schatz, 9 Wiktor) during 131 procedures. The indication was bail-out treatment in 39, restenosis in 59 native coronary arteries, and stenosis or restenosis in 33 vein grafts. Stent-related events were studied during the in-hospital stay and on follow-up and included closure, stent restenosis, myocardial infarction, death, and the need for coronary bypass surgery. A Kaplan-Meier estimate extended to 6 years showed different short- and long-term outcomes for the distinct treatment groups (p < 0.05): right coronary artery stenting (more particularly, stenting for restenosis after angioplasty) had the lowest and vein graft stenting had the highest stent-related complication rate. The complication rate was similar (p > 0.25) (1) in the case of multiple nontandem stent implantation during the same procedure; (2) for the different endoprosthesis sizes; and (3) during the different procedural years. In native coronary arteries, restenosis after angioplasty of the right coronary artery could be a preferential indication for coronary artery stenting. Despite a favorable short-term outcome, vein graft stenting has a high incidence of events on long-term follow-up, mainly because of late restenosis. Multiple nontandem stenting during the same procedure is not associated with a higher incidence of complications, in particular, the restenosis rate is not appreciably higher. Finally, only a minor benefit for the learning curve is apparent from this single-center experience with continual unchanged postprocedural management.

Adult↗

Late "rim sign"--a variant of an old sign.

Classically, the "rim sign" has been described throughout the hepatobiliary scan. The authors present a case of a late rim sign visualized at 25 minutes postinjection that proved to be acute upon chronic acalculous cholecystitis without gangrene.

Acute Disease↗

Coronary angioplasty in octogenarians: immediate and long-term results and comparison with a younger population.

The safety and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was examined in a group of 91 octogenarians during 133 consecutive procedures and compared to the younger part of our PTCA population (3,443 procedures) during an 8-year study period. Most octogenarians presented with refractory or unstable angina pectoris and multivessel involvement, but had normal left ventricular function. The angiographic success rate was 84%. Technical failure was observed in 12% of cases and complications in 14%. Two early procedure related deaths were observed. Restenosis was estimated at 24%. The proportion surviving and the proportion without cardiac event estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method at 2 years were 0.89 and 0.60, respectively. In comparison to the younger population, the immediate angiographic success was lower as a result of a higher incidence of technical failure (P less than 0.05). Otherwise, no difference in terms of restenosis or overall related complication rate was noted (P greater than 0.1). It is concluded that PTCA is an efficient and safe therapeutic option for octogenarians with severe or refractory angina pectoris. Technical failure is more frequently observed than in younger patients and explains a lower immediate angiographic success. Nevertheless, at 2-years follow-up, a large majority of patients are alive and asymptomatic.

Age Factors↗

Patent foramen ovale in young stroke patients with mitral valve prolapse.

Because mitral valve prolapse and patent foramen ovale are supposed to promote stroke in young patients, we assessed the frequency of patent foramen ovale in 18 patients younger than 45 years with stroke and mitral valve prolapse diagnosed on echocardiography at the time of stroke, who were admitted to 2 university hospitals. Eleven patients were called back to hospital for contrast transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography, 3 to 7 years after their initial stroke. A patient foramen ovale was found in 9 patients (50%). In 4 re-assessed patients no mitral valve prolapse was found using our present criteria. Six patients with mitral valve prolapse had a patent foramen ovale (43%). Our results suggest that mitral valve prolapse is commonly associated with patent foramen ovale in young stroke patients.

Adolescent↗

Initial experience with a new balloon-on-a-wire catheter: the Bijou.

This paper presents our initial experience with a new low-profile balloon "on-a-wire" catheter, the Bijou. The concept of this balloon is to provide an additional side lumen with the advantages of (1) the ability to measure pressure gradient, (2) the possibility of drug infusion, and (3) the ability to advance a steerable guidewire through this side lumen. The balloon has been tested in 15 patients; 14 underwent an elective procedure for stable angina pectoris (with 2 cases of restenosis) and one an emergency angioplasty in a case of acute myocardial infarction. The stenosis was located on the left anterior descending artery in 11 procedures, on the right in 3, on a marginal branch in 2, on the circumflex and a saphenous vein graft in 1. All stenoses could be dilated successfully (residual stenosis < 25%). The transstenotic pressure gradient felt from 49 +/- 13 mmHg to 7 +/- 4 mm Hg after angioplasty. Except for an uncomplicated dissection in 3 patients, no other complication was noted. With this new catheter, the double-lumen configuration adds the advantages of an "over-the-wire" to an "on-a-wire" system.

Aged↗

Retrieval of a migrated coronary stent by means of an alligator forceps catheter.

Stent migration and embolization are well-known complications of intracoronary stenting with balloon-mounted stents. During an elective stenting procedure of a proximal right coronary artery stenosis, a 3.5 mm Wiktor stent (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis) was displaced from its delivery balloon. The guiding catheter and the delivery system were withdrawn, leaving the stent around a 3 m 0.014 inch High Torque floppy guidewire (ACS, Santa Clara, CA) in the abdominal aorta. An 40 cm 5F Alligator Forceps catheter (Cook OB/Gyn., Spencer, IN), introduced through a cut-off 8F coronary guiding catheter, allowed improved torque control of the retrieval catheter and a safe and successful withdrawal of the stent through the arterial introducer sheet.

Angina Pectoris↗

[Usefulness of perfusion balloon catheter in case of failure of coronary angioplasty: immediate and long-term results].

Coronary dissection and acute occlusion are serious complications of coronary angioplasty and may require emergency coronary bypass surgery or result in myocardial infarction or death of the patient. Recently, perfusion balloon catheters allowing prolonged inflations have been used to restore coronary flow after major dissection and occlusion of the artery. Forty-two consecutive patients requiring this procedure were evaluated at short and long term. A satisfactory angiographic result and clinical stabilisation were obtained in 37 cases (88%). Of the 5 immediate failures, 3 (7.1%) underwent coronary bypass surgery and 2 (4.8%) were treated conservatively. Reocclusion was observed in 4 patients (9.5%) during the hospital period; 2 underwent coronary stenting (4.8%) and the other 2 were treated medically. Myocardial infarction was observed in 11 patients (26.2%). Angiographic control was performed 6.2 +/- 3.6 months later in 20 of the 33 patients with no in-hospital complications. Coronary restenosis was observed in 12 of these cases (60%). This study shows the efficacy of perfusion balloon catheter in treating major coronary dissection and coronary occlusion during coronary angioplasty. In particular, the need for emergency coronary bypass surgery was limited. However, there was a high long-term restenosis rate which emphasises the need for careful follow-up of these patients.

Adult↗

Long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up of patients treated with the self-expanding coronary stent for acute occlusion during balloon angioplasty of the right coronary artery.

A self-expanding coronary stent was implanted in 17 patients to treat acute occlusion of the right coronary artery after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. There were 2 women and 15 men, with a mean age of 59 +/- 8 years. All patients underwent at least one follow-up angiographic examination 4 to 6 months after implantation and six patients had additional follow-up angiography. During a mean follow-up interval of 32 +/- 10 months no patient died or had a myocardial infarction. Restenosis within the stent did not occur. Two patients had a new stenosis adjacent to the stent. Stent occlusion was found on follow-up angiography in one patient who had not been treated with an antiplatelet agent. The mean intraluminal diameter was 2.77 +/- 0.5 mm after implantation and 2.67 +/- 0.5 mm on follow-up angiography. It is concluded that coronary stenting is effective in treating right coronary artery occlusion after balloon angioplasty. Immediate and long-term outcome suggest that the right coronary artery may be a particularly favorable site for stent implantation.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Long-term follow-up of the first 56 patients treated with intracoronary self-expanding stents (the Lausanne experience).

Fifty-six patients treated with the self-expanding intracoronary stent for acute occlusion during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or restenosis were followed for 24 to 43 months (mean 34). Successful deployment and positioning were achieved in 55 of 56 patients. Occlusion of the stent was documented in 8 patients, the earliest occurring 30 minutes and the latest 8 months after implantation. Three of the occluded stents were recanalized by PTCA. Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) were required in 4 patients: 1 for symptomatic restenosis, 1 for left main stenosis adjacent to the stent and 2 for acute ischemia during the in-hospital stay (less than 7 days). Myocardial infarction occurred in the territory of the stented vessel in 8 patients. Seven patients died between 1 day and 19 months after implantation. Local bleeding complications occurred in 10 patients, with 5 requiring blood transfusion. Restenosis within the stent was angiographically documented in 5 patients (9%). A new lesion in the treated vessel was found in 10 patients, followed by implantation of a second stent in 5 and a third stent in 1 patient. Medical treatment was instituted in the remaining 4 patients. Forty-nine patients (88%) are alive. Twenty-nine patients (51%) remained asymptomatic, and 44 (78%) are in a better functional class than before the implantation. Eleven of 15 (79%) major complications (acute occlusions or deaths) occurred in patients who received a stent in the left anterior descending coronary artery. In conclusion, implantation of the self-expanding intracoronary stent appears to be a new therapeutic option for treating acute occlusion or restenosis after PTCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

[Transesophageal echocardiography. Indications and clinical usefulness].

To optimize the clinical applications of transesophageal echocardiography (TOE), we have compared the contribution of TOE with that of transthoracic echocardiography (TEE). TOE and TTE were performed in 19 outpatients, 17 hospitalized patients and 16 surgical patients (33 males and 19 females, mean age 53.3 +/- 16.8 years). TOE obtained a diagnosis unsuspected from TTE in 12 cases, and additional useful clinical information was obtained by TOE in 15 cases. Surgical treatment was decided on the basis of TOE alone in 8 cases. Patient tolerance of TOE was excellent and no major complications occurred. In conclusion, additional information obtained by TOE was clinically useful in about half of patients (52%), in particular in the diagnosis of cardiogenic embolism and in clinically suspect endocarditis, valvular dysfunction or aortic dissection.

Adult↗

Subjective visual echocardiographic estimate of left ventricular ejection fraction as an alternative to conventional echocardiographic methods: comparison with contrast angiography.

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a measure of ventricular function with clinical and prognostic significance and can be reliably calculated with various M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic formulas in selected, good quality echocardiograms. Subjective visual echocardiographic estimate of LVEF is a potentially less time consuming and more widely applicable method. In order to test its reliability, we performed a prospective blind trial in 40 consecutive patients undergoing biplane contrast ventriculography (BCV), to compare the visual estimate of LVEF during a complete echocardiogram of three independent observers with (1) cubed M-mode formula, (2) Teichholz M-mode formula, (3) length-area method from the four-chamber view, and (4) Simpson's single plane formula. BCV was the reference method. The best correlation with BCV was obtained by visual estimate [r of the three observers, respectively = 0.75; 0.84; 0.81] and M-mode measurements [r (1) = 0.8; r (2) = 0.8], but the most sophisticated methods provided the poorest estimate [r (3) = 0.54; r (4) = 0.49]. All correlation coefficients improved when good studies, defined as a definition of the endocardial surface of more than 75%, were selected (n = 23), but the differences persisted. One observer systematically estimated higher values than the other two (Friedman's test, p less than 0.01) and this interobserver variability suggests that each echocardiographer should test himself against BCV in his lab in order to apply the visual estimate method reliably.

Adult↗

Relative risk analysis of angiographic predictors of restenosis within the coronary Wallstent.

BACKGROUND: Late angiographic narrowing has been observed following coronary implantation of the Wallstent. To identify the angiographic variables that predict restenosis within the stented segment, a retrospective study of data from the European Wallstent core laboratory was performed. METHODS AND RESULTS: Follow-up angiograms (excluding patients with in-hospital occlusions) were analyzed for 214 lesions in 176 patients (78% restudy rate). The incidence of restenosis within the stented segment was 35% by lesion and 35% by patient for criterion 1 (greater than or equal to 0.72 mm loss in minimal luminal diameter) and 24% by lesion and 24% by patient for criterion 2 (diameter stenosis greater than or equal to 50% at follow-up). The association between 16 variables and restenosis was determined by a relative risk ratio assessment. Variables with significant risk ratios for restenosis with criterion 1 were use of multiple stents/lesion (relative risk, 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.25) and oversized (unconstrained stent diameter exceeding reference diameter greater than 0.7 mm) stents (relative risk, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.10-2.45), and for criterion 2, oversizing by more than 0.70 mm (relative risk, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.13-3.31), bypass grafts (relative risk, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.98-2.66), use of multiple stents/lesion (relative risk, 1.61; 95% CI, 0.97-2.67) and residual diameter stenosis more than 20% post stenting (relative risk, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.91-2.50). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that several angiographic variables are significantly associated with late angiographic narrowing after stenting in the coronary arteries. We suggest that stent operators avoid excessive oversizing in the selection of stent diameter and the use of multiple stents per lesion to lessen the risk of late restenosis.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Switzerland: time to act!].

Cardiovascular related deaths still represent about 50% of all demises despite their decreasing incidence in the United States and in Switzerland. About two thirds of these deaths are due to ischemic heart disease in which half of the patients die outside hospital, the majority of them two hours after the first symptoms. Moreover, sudden death is the first symptom of coronary artery disease in 25% of cases. In this country few of these persons receive adequate basic life support (BLS) at the scene because a coordinated plan to teach BLS to the citizen does not yet exist in Switzerland. With the aid of specialized medical societies, the Swiss Red Cross and affiliated organizations, it is proposed to elaborate a plan to teach BLS to the general public in Switzerland on the basis of the future European guidelines for BLS.

Death, Sudden↗

[Immediate and late complications secondary to the implantation of a coronary endoprosthesis].

The incidence of acute and late complications after coronary stenting has been studied in 95 consecutive patients. A total of 113 stents were implanted: 23 cases for acute occlusion of the dilated vessel and 72 for restenosis. After 16 months of follow-up, minor complications had occurred in 22 patients (23%). They consisted of transient occlusion of the prosthesis in 7 patients (7.3%), non-Q wave infarction in 4 patients (4.2%) and 10 hemorrhages (11%). During the following period major complications were observed in 11 patients (12%) with myocardial infarction in 7 instances and acute occlusion in 7 patients. 5 patients (5.3%) underwent coronary artery bypass graft and 6 (6.3%) died (one in-hospital death). Two deaths were related to the stent, but in the other four no definite correlation between the prosthesis and the death could be demonstrated. Restenosis at 12 months was present in 4 cases: in 3 patients (4.7%) where the stent had been implanted for restenosis and 1 (4.7%) where it had been implanted for acute occlusion. We conclude that for selected patients, coronary stenting is a promising new technique, especially for acute occlusion after PTCA; moreover, at 12 months restenosis is less frequent than after PTCA. However, technical improvement is necessary to diminish the rate of complications, particularly thrombosis and hemorrhage.

Aged↗