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Biomedical subjects

J L Monro

Publications and source records attributed to J L Monro.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Corrective cardiac surgery in infants. A review of 136 patients including the contribution of postoperative ventilation.

This is a review of 136 patients who have undergone corrective surgery for congenital heart disease with the aid of profound hypothermia in a 6-year period. Almost all patients were less than one year old and less than 10 kg. In 1979 the average age was 3.4 months and the average weight was 4.1 kg in 34 infants. The hypothermic technique consisted of surface cooling followed by cardiopulmonary bypass cooling and circulatory arrest during definitive surgery. The hospital mortality was 26% for the whole period, having decreased from 53% in 1974 to 15% in 1979. After operation 70% of patients with uncomplicated ventricular septal defect or the tetralogy of Fallot were extubated within 4 hours, 65% of all patients were extubated within 12 hours of operation.

Anesthesia, General↗

Aortic arch interruption presenting with absence of all limb pulses.

Three patients with aortic arch anomalies presented with severe heart failure, acidaemia, and poor or absent upper and lower limb pulses. Prominent carotid arterial pulsations were detected which distinguished the condition clinically from aortic atresia. In 2 patients with a left aortic arch, interruption was distal to the left common carotid artery and there was an aberrant right subclavian. In the 3rd patient with a right aortic arch, interruption was distal to the right common carotid and there was an aberrant left subclavian artery. By dilating the narrowed ductus, prostaglandin E2 infusion corrected the acidosis. Successful surgical correction was achieved in one patient by direct anastomosis of descending aorta to ascending aorta and the base of the left common carotid artery.

Aorta, Thoracic↗

Disposition of the sinus node in left-sided juxtaposition of the atrial appendages.

In view of the complex cardiac anomalies frequently associated with left-sided juxtaposition of the atrial appendages the disposition of the sinus node has been studied in 6 of these hearts. While the sulcus terminalis still provides a landmark to the position of the node, the nodes were in an anterior position in all 5 hearts with complete juxtaposition, 2 being inferior to the crista terminalis. The node was in a more normal, lateral position in the sixth case with partial juxtaposition.

Heart Atria↗

Persistence and effects of sinus rhythm after Fontan procedure for tricuspid atresia.

Four patients who had had a Fontan type of procedure for tricuspid atresia 23, 6, 6, and 11 months previously were investigated by ambulatory electrocardiographic recording and simultaneous recording of the jugular venous pressure and echocardiogram of the conduit or pulmonary valve. All had been considerably improved by the operation. In 1 patient episodes of supraventricular tachycardia were recorded but no rhythm disturbance was detected in the other 3. Pulmonary blood flow was shown to be pulsatile and atrial systole is an important factor in this. The conduit valve showed delayed opening and slow closure suggesting that its presence in the pulmonary circuit may be unnecessary.

Adolescent↗

Calcified left atrial myxoma with floppy mitral valve.

A heavily calcified left atrial myxoma in a man aged 53 was diagnosed from the plain chest x-ray film and confirmed by echocardiography. There was also moderate mitral regurgitation caused by a floppy mitral valve. Before a systemic embolus is considered to have arisen from a floppy mitral valve, echocardiography must be performed.

Calcinosis↗

Surgery of the ascending aorta: five years' experience at a regional cardiac centre.

Between 1972 and 1978, 31 patients underwent replacement of the ascending aorta, with or without aortic valve surgery, at the Wessex Regional Cardiac Centre. The commonest indications for operation were aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta causing aortic regurgitation and acute dissection of the ascending aorta. Eleven of the 31 patients had features of Marfan's syndrome. The overall hospital mortality was 19.4%, a figure comparable with those reported in other series; ventricular failure secondary to ischaemia during operation was the commonest cause of death. The long-term symptomatic results were excellent, except in the two patients who underwent resuspension of the aortic valve for aortic regurgiation associated with acute dissections. For aneurysms of the ascending aorta with associated aortic regurgitation, replacement of the valve and ascending aorta with a combined valve prosthesis and synthetic tube graft, with reimplantation of the coronary ostia, is the procedure of choice if the aortic valve ring is diseased. Experience to date indicates that replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve with separate prostheses, leaving the coronary ostia undisturbed, is a satisfactory alternative provided the aortic annulus is of suitable size and quality; this is more likely to be the case in dissections than in aneurysmal dilatation of the ascending aorta. Replacement of the ascending aorta may also be indicated in some cases of dilatation of the ascending aorta secondary to aortic valve disease if the aortic wall is unusually thin.

Adult↗

The cost of cardiac surgery.

A study in Wessex has shown that at 1977 prices, and excluding the cost of equipment already installed in the unit, the cost of replacing a man's aortic valve in this unit is about 1800 pounds. Nevertheless, this seems a small price to pay for return to health and full working capacity, particularly since such patients no longer need to draw social security benefits and their tax contributions will return to normal, thus probably paying for the operation within two years.

Adult↗

Correction of anomalous origin of left coronary artery using left subclavian artery.

A case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery is reported in which surgical correction by anastomosis of the left subclavian artery to the left coronary artery was performed at the age of 6 months. There was a dramatic clinical improvement, and at 22 months repeat angiocardiography disclosed a patent graft and remarkable improvement in left ventricular function. It is recommended that this is the operation of choice for infants in whom cardiac catheterisation fails to show a shunt into the pulmonary artery or the shunt is small.

Coronary Vessel Anomalies↗

Left atrial myxoma with aortic regurgitation.

A 59-year-old woman with a left atrial myxoma was shown to have moderate aortic regurgitation. At operation for removal of the myxoma it was found to be attached to the atrial septum close to the aortic root. It is suggested that the aortic regurgitation was caused by distortion of the aortic root caused by traction upon it from the myxoma as it moved downward into the left ventricle in diastole. Observations are made on the echocardiographic findings which helped in the diagnosis of the left atrial myxoma.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗

Pulmonary hypertension in mitral valve disease: 56 surgical patients reviewed.

A total of 392 patients have undergone prosthetic valve surgery including the mitral valve over a four-year period (1972-76). Of these patients 56 (14%) had a pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 70 mmHg or more during preoperative cardiac catheterisation and the hospital mortality of this group was 5.4%. Similarly, the hospital mortality of the remaining 336 patients with a pulmonary artery pressure below 70 mmHg was 5.4%. The presence of pulmonary hypertension in patients with valve disease including the mitral valve does not therefore indicate that the risk of dying in hospital as a consequence of corrective surgery is increased. The absence of a raised hospital mortality in this recent series may be attributed to improved surgical techniques and materials, while the use of droperidol and pentolinium which may reduce pulmonary vascular resistance as well as systemic resistance during surgery could be contributory.

Adult↗

Correction of type B interrupted aortic arch with ventricllar septal defect in infancy.

The successful correction of a Type B interrupted aortic arch (IAA) with simultaneous closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in a 6-month-old infant is described. With the use of profound hypothermia and limited cardiopulmonary bypass, a flap of pulmonary artery, together with the persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA), was dissected free and sutured so as to form a tube which then was anastomosed to the ascending aorta. The ventricular septal defect and the pulmonary arteriotomy then were closed. Cardiac catheterization 5 months later demonstrated a satisfactory reconstruction with no gradient between the ascending and descending aorta.

Aorta, Thoracic↗

Endomyocardial fibrosis in a European woman and its successful surgical treatment.

A case of endomyocardial fibrosis of the right ventricle in a European woman is presented. The patient had no history of travel or residency outside of the United Kingdon, Echocardiography was helpful in defining the abnormality. Excision of the fibrotic tissue in the right ventricle and tricuspid valve replacement resulted in symptomatic relief. There was also coincidental absence of the right pulmonary artery.

Adolescent↗

Intraoperative left ventricular perforation with false aneurysm formation.

Two cases of perforation of the left ventricle during mitral valve replacement are described. In the first case there was perforation at the site of papillary muscle excision and this was recognized and successfully treated. However, a true ventricular aneurysm developed at the repair site. One month after operation rupture of the left ventricle occurred at a second and separate site on the posterior aspect of the atrioventricular ring. This resulted in a false aneurysm which produced a pansystolic murmur mimicking mitral regurgitation. Both the true and the false aneurysm were successfully repaired. In the second case perforation occurred on the posterior aspect of the atrioventricular ring and was successfully repaired. However, a false ventricular aneurysm developed and ruptured into the left atrium producing severe, but silent, mitral regurgitation. This was recognized and successfully repaired. The implications of these cases are discussed.

Echocardiography↗

Elective operations for post-infarction left ventricular aneurysms.

During a two-year period (February 1973 to February 1975) 20 consecutive patients with post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm, seen at the Wessex Cardiac and Thoracic Centre, underwent aneurysmectomy with or without aorta-to-coronary artery saphenous vein bypass grafts, ventricular septal defect closure, or valve replacement. The diagnoses were established by clinical means, plain chest radiographs, left ventriculography, and selective coronary arteriography. The indications for surgery were uncontrollable congestive heart failure and angina, ventricular arrhythmias, or a rapidly growing aneurysm. Low cardiac indices or high left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were not considered to be contraindications to operation. Resection of the left ventricular aneurysm was performed with the use of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass with haemodilution. In addition to the aneurysmectomy, four of these patients had concomitant closure of post-infarction ventricular septal defects; four had valve replacements; two had grafts to coronary arteries; and one had both replacement of the mitral valve and a right coronary vein graft. There were two hospital deaths (10%) and two late deaths (10%), making an overall mortality of 20%. All but one of the deaths were related to coronary artery disease. The survivors are active, and their rehabilitation was satisfactory. The longest survivor is doing well two years after left ventricular aneurysmectomy, ventricular defect closure, and tricuspid valve replacement. It is evident from our experience and from the reports of others that surgery has an established place in the management of post-infarction left ventricular aneurysm.

Adult↗