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Biomedical subjects

J D Hilton

Publications and source records attributed to J D Hilton.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Clinically unrecognized ventricular dysfunction in young diabetic patients.

Left ventricular function at rest and during supine bicycle exercise was assessed by gated radionuclide angiography in 20 diabetic patients and 18 normal control subjects without clinical evidence of heart disease. The diabetic patients were aged 21 to 44 years and all except one used insulin. No subject developed chest pain or electrocardiographic changes during exercise. Both groups had a similar rest and exercise heart rate and blood pressure, and both achieved similar work loads. The control group had an ejection fraction at rest of 65.4 +/- 6.2% (mean +/- SD) and only 1 of 18 showed a decrease with exercise; peak exercise ejection fraction averaged 77.1 +/- 7.8%. The diabetic group had a mean ejection fraction at rest of 63.7 +/- 6.5%, similar to that of the control group, but 7 of 20 showed a decrease during exercise; the exercise ejection fraction averaged 67.7 +/- 9.7%, significantly lower than that of the control group (p less than 0.01). The diabetic patients varied widely in ejection fraction response to exercise, ranging from an increase of 25% to a decrease of 21%. This response did not correlate with age, sex, duration of diabetes, smoking, retinopathy, exercise heart rate, blood pressure or rate-pressure product, work load attained or ejection fraction at rest. These data suggest that approximately one-third of patients with diabetes have subclinical left ventricular dysfunction without correlation to risk factors for atherosclerosis or other diabetic complications. Whether this is due to unrecognized coronary artery disease or primary myocardial disease remains unknown.

Adult

Rewarming hypovolemia after aortocoronary bypass surgery.

Coronary bypass performed with moderate systemic hypothermia (25 degrees C) and cold-potassium cardioplegia was associated with a fall and subsequent rise in core (pulmonary arterial) temperature. Serial hemodynamic measurements during rewarming and recovery revealed a decrease in cardiac index (CI) without a decrease in the left atrial pressure (LAP) of 17 patients recovering from uneventful coronary bypass surgery. Nuclear ventriculograms performed during rewarming demonstrated a decrease in left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (EDVI, calculated from the thermodilution stroke index divided by the nuclear ejection fraction) without a change in LAP. Volume loading during both mild hypothermia (35 +/- 5[SD]degrees C) and normothermia revealed that myocardial performance (the relation between CI and EDVI) was unchanged, but diastolic compliance (the relation between LAP and EDVI) decreased with rewarming. LAP was a poor indicator of left ventricular preload (EDVI) during rewarming, and volume loading was required to maintain preload and prevent hypoperfusion.

Atrial Function

Rest and exercise ventricular function in adults with congenital ventricular septal defects.

Rest and exercise right and left ventricular function were compared using equilibrium gated radionuclide angiography in 19 normal sedentary control subjects (mean age 28 years, range 22 to 34) and 34 patients with hemodynamically documented congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD) (mean age 27 years, range 20 to 40). The 34 patients with VSD were divided into 3 groups: those in Group 1 (17 patients) had pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratios of less than 2 to 1; those in Group 2 (12 patients) had prior surgical closure of VSD (mean interval from surgery 17 years, range 9 to 22), and those in Group 3 (5 patients) had Eisenmenger's complex. Gated radionuclide angiography was performed at rest and during each level of graded supine bicycle exercise to fatigue. Heart rate, blood pressure, maximal work load achieved, and right and left ventricular ejection fractions were assessed. The control subjects demonstrated an increase in both the left and right ventricular ejection fractions with exercise (0.70 +/- 0.07 to 0.79 +/- 0.05 and 0.46 +/- 0.06 to 0.57 +/- 0.04; p less than 0.001 for left and right ventricles, respectively). All study groups failed to demonstrate an increase in ejection fraction in either ventricle with exercise. Furthermore, resting left ventricular ejection fraction in Groups 2 and 3 was lower than that in the control subjects (0.59 +/- 0.09 and 0.54 +/- 0.06 versus 0.70 +/- 0.07; p less than 0.001) and resting right ventricular ejection fraction was lower in Group 3 versus control subjects (0.30 +/- 0.07 versus 0.46 +/- 0.06; p less than 0.001). Thus (1) left and right ventricular function on exercise were abnormal in patients with residual VSD as compared with control subjects; (2) rest and exercise left ventricular ejection fractions remained abnormal despite surgical closure of VSD in the remote past; (3) resting left and right ventricular function was abnormal in patients with Eisenmenger's complex; (4) lifelong volume overload may be detrimental to myocardial function.

Adult

A comparison of volume loading and atrial pacing following aortocoronary bypass.

Although cold potassium cardioplegia provides adequate myocardial protection, transient hemodynamic and metabolic instability occasionally occurs after uncomplicated coronary bypass surgery. Two methods to increase cardiac output were compared 2 to 6 hours postoperatively in 24 patients recovering from elective coronary bypass operation. Volume loading increased cardiac index (CI) from 2.1 +/- 0.5 to 2.7 +/- 0.6 L/min/m2 by increasing left atrial pressure (LAP) from 8.6 +/- 3.6 to 13.0 +/- 4.1 mm Hg. Atrial pacing at a rate of 112 +/- 8 beats per minute increased CI from 2.4 +/- 0.5 to 2.7 +/- 0.8 L/min/m2 without a change in LAP. Ejection fraction by nuclear angiography did not change, but the calculated left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (stroke index/ejection fraction) increased with volume loading and decreased with atrial pacing--a decrease in diastolic compliance. Myocardial oxygen extraction did not change, but myocardial lactate extraction increased with volume loading and decreased with atrial pacing. Coronary sinus blood flow was measured in 5 patients and increased with both methods studied. Volume loading demonstrated that myocardial performance was normal and myocardial metabolism increased commensurate with the increase in work. Atrial pacing increased CI but resulted in anaerobic metabolism and a decrease in diastolic compliance. Volume loading rather than atrial pacing will improve CI without producing ischemia in the early postoperative period.

Adult

Optimal postoperative volume loading.

Intravenous infusions are required to maintain ventricular preload after uneventful coronary bypass operation. During the early postoperative period, when myocardial metabolic recovery is incomplete, volume loading is intended to stabilize ventricular function and metabolism and to prevent progressive ischemic injury. This study attempts to define the optimal preload for both metabolism and performance. Thirty-seven patients recovering from elective coronary bypass operations and cold potassium cardioplegia underwent volume loading with whole plasma. The initial response (VLA) from a low left atrial pressure (LAP = 7.3 +/- 3.3 mm Hg) was compared with the subsequent response (VLB) from a higher filling pressure (LAP = 10.9 +/- 2.7 mm Hg). Both VLA and VLB produced a similar increase in cardiac index, stroke work index, and end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), and a decrease in ejection fraction (measured by nuclear angiography). Myocardial lactate extraction increased with VLA, but myocardial lactate production resulted with VLB. A careful analysis of these volume loading studies suggested that myocardial performance and compliance were not altered in the early postoperative period. The decrease in ejection fraction with volume loading may have resulted from a combination of increased wall tension and decreased inotropic stimulation. After uneventful coronary bypass surgery, an LAP between 5 and 12 mm Hg corresponded to an EDVI between 30 and 80 ml/m2 and produced adequate cardiac index, stroke work index, and lactate extraction. A lower or higher preload did not improve function and resulted in abnormal metabolism.

Coronary Artery Bypass

Comparison of alternative cardioplegic techniques.

Cold potassium cardioplegia provides adequate protection for coronary bypass operations, but severe coronary stenoses limit cardioplegic delivery to ischemic regions. The traditional technique delivers cardioplegic solution into the aortic root during the performance of distal anastomoses. The proposed alternative technique constructs proximal as well as distal anastomoses during a prolonged cross-clamp period, but permits more uniform cooling. The two techniques were compared in a prospective concurrent trial of 45 patients undergoing elective coronary bypass grafting. The traditional technique was employed in 26 patients (Group A) and the alternative technique in 19 patients (Group B). In both groups, 700 to 1,000 ml of a crystalloid cardioplegic solution was infused into the aortic root after application of the aortic cross-clamp. In Group A (traditional technique), 500 ml was infused into the aortic root after each distal anastomosis. In Group B (alternative technique), cardioplegic solution was administered through the vein graft after each distal anastomosis, and a proximal anastomosis was constructed after distal anastomoses to the most ischemic regions to permit continued cardioplegic delivery to these regions. The cross-clamp period was shorter in Group A than in Group B (44 +/- 15 versus 60 +/- 18 minutes, p less than 0.01), but the mean temperature in the most ischemic region was warmer (Group A, 19 degrees +/- 3 degrees C; Group B, 15 degrees +/- 3 degrees C, p less than 0.05). The postoperative CK-MB was higher in Group A (Group A, 47 +/- 36; Group B, 21 +/- 9 IU/L, p less than 0.01). Cardiac lactate production persisted longer in Group A (Group A, 4 +/- 1; Group B, 1 +/- 1 hours postoperatively, p less than 0.05). Volume loading 4 hours postoperatively produced a similar increase in left atrial pressure and cardiac index in both groups. In response to volume loading, Group A patients produced lactate, but Group B patients extracted lactate (change in cardiac lactate extraction: Group A, -1.7 +/- 2.3; Group B, +2.5 +/- 5.1 mg/dl, p less than 0.05). The construction of proximal as well as distal anastomoses during a prolonged cross-clamp period permits more uniform cooling and immediate reperfusion. This alternative technique resulted in less injury (CK-MB release) and more rapid recovery of myocardial metabolism.

Aged

Left ventricular function in trained and untrained healthy subjects.

Left ventricular function was compared in 18 normal sedentary controls (mean age 28 years, range 22 - 34 years) and nine endurance-trained athletes (mean age 19 years, range 15 - 25 years) at rest and during supine bicycle exercise. Gated radionuclide angiocardiograms were performed at rest and at each level of graded maximal supine bicycle exercise. Heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction and the relative changes in left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes were assessed. Athletes attained a much greater work load than controls (mean 22.1 kpm/kg body weight vs 13 kpm/Kg body weight). Both groups achieved similar increased in heart rate, blood pressure and ejection fractions. In the controls, the mean end-diastolic volume increased to 124% of that at rest (p less than 0.02) during exercise and the mean end-systolic volume decreased to 81% of the rest level (p less than 0.02). In contrast, the mean end-diastolic volume did not significantly change during exercise in the athletes, and the mean end-systolic volume decreased to 64% of rest (p less than 0.05). Thus, although trained and untrained healthy subjects had similar increases in the left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise, different mechanisms were used to achieve these increases. Untrained subjects increased end-diastolic volumes, whereas trained subjects decreased the end-systolic volumes. The ability of athletes to exercise without increasing preload may be an effect of training amd might have important implications in reducing myocardial oxygen demand during exercise.

Adult

The hemodynamic and metabolic response to pacing after aortocoronary bypass.

Long-term follow-up of aortocoronary bypass has shown good preservation of ventricular function. However, myocardial reserve in the immediate postoperative period may not be optimal. Nineteen patients who underwent elective aortocoronary bypass protected with cold potassium cardioplegia were studied in the early postoperative period at rest and during the stress of atrial and ventricular pacing. Performance was assessed by hemodynamic, metabolic and nuclear angiographic measurements. In the first 2--6 hours after aortic cross clamping, myocardial performance was preserved at rest and there was no evidence of ischemic metabolism. Atrial pacing at a rate of 119 beats/min caused a significant increase in cardiac index (p less than 0.01) without deterioration in hemodynamics, ejection fraction or metabolic status. At the same rate, ventricular pacing did not change the cardiac index and there was a decrease in hemodynamic function. Ejection fraction decreased from 56% to 44% (p less than 0.05) without a change in end-diastolic volume. Lactate, pyruvate and beta hydroxybutyrate extractions were changed to net production. Ventricular performance was preserved at rest immediately after aortocoronary bypass done with multidose cold potassium cardioplegia, with adequate reserve to meet the stress of atrial but not ventricular pacing. We conclude that the therapeutic implications of the type of pacing selected in the immediate postoperative period may be important.

Atrial Function