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Biomedical subjects

Jerry Braun

Publications and source records attributed to Jerry Braun.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Plasma natriuretic peptide levels reflect changes in heart failure symptoms, left ventricular size and function after surgical mitral valve repair.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) has diagnostic and prognostic value in patients with heart failure. The present prospective study was designed to assess whether changes in NT-proBNP levels after surgical mitral valve repair reflect changes in heart failure symptoms and changes in left atrial size, left ventricular size and left ventricular function. METHODS: The study population consisted of 22 patients (mean age: 62.8 +/- 14.2 years, 68% male) undergoing surgical mitral valve repair. Serial NT-proBNP measurements, transthoracic echocardiography and New York Heart Association (NYHA) class assessment were performed before and 6 months after surgery. RESULTS: All patients underwent successful mitral valve repair and no patients died during follow-up. The decrease in NT-proBNP level was associated with the reduction in left atrial dimension (r = 0.72, P < 0.001), left ventricular end-systolic dimension (r = 0.63, P = 0.002), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (r = 0.46, P = 0.031), and the increase in fractional shortening (r = - 0.63, P = 0.002). Finally, patients with decreasing NT-proBNP levels revealed a significant improvement in heart failure symptoms (NYHA class). CONCLUSION: Changes in NT-proBNP after surgical mitral valve repair reflect changes in heart failure symptoms and changes in left atrial and ventricular dimensions and function.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Outcome after mitral valve repair for acute and healed infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after mitral valve surgery for acute and healed infective endocarditis. METHODS: Of 37 consecutive patients presenting with native mitral valve endocarditis, mitral valve repair (MVRep) was feasible in 34 (92%) patients. In 17 (50%) patients, surgery was indicated during antibiotic therapy (acute endocarditis), whereas 17 (50%) underwent surgery after antibiotic therapy was completed (healed endocarditis). Patients were evaluated for early and long-term clinical and echocardiographic outcome. RESULTS: In-hospital death occurred in two (6%) patients and two (6%) died during follow-up, with a 2-year survival of 100% in healed endocarditis as compared to 76% (p=0.03) in patients undergoing surgery in acute endocarditis. No patient with acute endocarditis needed repeat mitral valve surgery. Three (9%) patients underwent re-operation because of early mitral regurgitation (n=1) or late recurrent endocarditis (n=2). The average grade of mitral regurgitation was 3.8+/-0.4 (all grades 3 to 4+) before surgery and 0.6+/-0.8 during follow-up (p<0.001). Significant reductions in left atrial (from 52+/-8mm to 46+/-8mm, p=0.004), left ventricular end-diastolic (from 61+/-8mm to 54+/-8mm, p=0.001), and end-systolic dimensions (from 41+/-8mm to 36+/-9 mm, p=0.02) were observed during follow-up, compared to preoperative dimensions. Of note, significant reverse remodeling was only observed in patients undergoing surgery in healed endocarditis. CONCLUSION: MVRep for mitral valve endocarditis is feasible with good clinical results, maintained valve competency with significant reductions in left atrial and left ventricular dimensions after surgery.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2005

MRI to evaluate left atrial and ventricular reverse remodeling after restrictive mitral annuloplasty in dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Data on reverse remodeling of the left atrium (LA) and left ventricle (LV) after restrictive annuloplasty in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy are scarce, and follow-up studies are performed with echocardiography. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and severe mitral regurgitation selected for restrictive mitral annuloplasty underwent serial MRI studies (within 1 week before surgery, and 2 months [n =18] and 1 year [n =13] after surgery). Early mortality was 10%; all patients were free from endocarditis and thromboembolism. New York Heart Association class improved from 3.2+/-0.4 to 1.2+/-0.9. Only 1 patient developed recurrent severe mitral regurgitation during follow-up and it was re-repaired. LA end-systolic volumes decreased significantly over time (from 165+/-48 mL to 109+/-23 mL to 111+/-28 mL; P < 0.01), as did LA end-diastolic volumes (from 92+/-32 mL to 71+/-22 mL to 75+/-17 mL; P = 0.01). LV end-diastolic volumes decreased significantly (from 244+/-56 mL to 184+/-54 mL to 195+/-67 mL; P < 0.01), whereas end-systolic volumes did not change significantly. LV ejection fraction increased significantly (from 35+/-8% to 46+/-13% to 46+/-15%; P < 0.01) and LV mass decreased significantly (from 150+/-43 grams to 132+/-39 grams to 136+/-33 grams; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Restrictive annuloplasty in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy yielded excellent clinical results associated with significant LA and LV reverse remodeling over time as demonstrated by MRI.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Double bioprosthetic valve replacement in right-sided carcinoid heart disease.

A patient with tricuspid and pulmonary regurgitation due to carcinoid syndrome successfully underwent double bioprosthetic valve replacement. This technique avoids anticoagulation treatment in a patient with hepatic dysfunction and facilitates future hepatic de-arterialization as a treatment option in carcinoid disease. Advances in treatment of carcinoid syndrome may have reduced the risk of early bioprosthetic degeneration.

Bioprosthesis↗
PubMed2005

Preoperative left ventricular dimensions predict reverse remodeling following restrictive mitral annuloplasty in ischemic mitral regurgitation.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic mitral regurgitation can be treated with a restrictive mitral annuloplasty, with or without coronary revascularization. In this study, the extent of reverse remodeling of the left ventricle following this strategy is assessed, as well as the factors that influence it. METHODS: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with ischemic mitral regurgitation and a mean ejection fraction of 32+/-10% underwent restrictive mitral annuloplasty (downsizing by two ring sizes, median ring size 26), with additional coronary revascularization in 75 patients. All underwent transthoracic echocardiography 18 months after surgery to assess residual mitral regurgitation, mitral valve gradient and left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors for reverse remodeling, defined as a 10% reduction in left ventricular dimension. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was used to identify cut-off values for preoperative left ventricular dimensions in predicting reverse remodeling. RESULTS: Early mortality was 8.0% (seven patients, three non-cardiac), late mortality was 7.5% (six patients, four non-cardiac). There were two reoperations (redo annuloplasty), and four readmissions for heart failure. At 29 months follow-up, NYHA class improved from 3.0+/-0.9 to 1.3+/-0.5 (P<0.01). Mitral regurgitation grade decreased from 3.1+/-0.5 to 0.6+/-0.6 at 18 months, left ventricular end-systolic dimension decreased from 52+/-8 to 44+/-11 mm (P<0.01), and end-diastolic dimension from 64+/-8 to 58+/-10mm (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis identified preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic dimension as the single best factor in predicting occurrence of reverse remodeling. For end-systolic dimension, 51mm was the optimal cut-off value to predict reverse remodeling (specificity and sensitivity 81%, area under curve 0.85); for end-diastolic dimension, the cut-off value was 65mm (specificity and sensitivity 89%, area under curve 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Stringent restrictive mitral annuloplasty with or without revascularization provides excellent clinical results with acceptable mortality. At 18 months follow-up, there is no significant residual mitral regurgitation. Reverse remodeling occurs in the majority of patients, but is limited by preoperative left ventricular dimensions. In patients with a left ventricular end-diastolic dimension exceeding 65mm, additional surgical procedures are necessary to try and obtain reverse remodeling in this subgroup.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Restrictive annuloplasty and coronary revascularization in ischemic mitral regurgitation results in reverse left ventricular remodeling.

BACKGROUND: Data on combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and restrictive annuloplasty in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy are scarce, and the effect on reverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: 51 patients with ischemic LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction 31+/-8%) and severe mitral regurgitation (grade 3 to 4+) underwent CABG and restrictive annuloplasty with stringent downsizing of the mitral annulus (by 2 sizes, Physio-ring, mean size 28+/-2). Serial transthoracic echocardiographic studies were performed (before surgery and within 3 months and 1.5 years after surgery) to assess mitral regurgitation, transmitral gradient, leaflet coaptation, and left atrial and LV reverse remodeling. Clinical follow-up (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, survival, events) was assessed at 2-year follow-up. Early operative mortality was 5.6%; at 2-year follow-up, all patients were free of endocarditis and thromboembolism, and 1 needed re-operation for recurrent mitral regurgitation; 2-year survival was 84%. NYHA class improved from 3.4+/-0.8 to 1.3+/-0.4 (P<0.01), with all patients in class I/II. Intraoperative transesophageal echo showed minimal (grade 1+) mitral regurgitation in 8 patients and none in 43, without stenosis. Leaflet coaptation was 0.8+/-0.2 cm. These values remained unchanged; all patients had no or minimal (grade 1+) mitral regurgitation at 2-year follow-up. LV end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions decreased from 51+/-10 to 43+/-12 mm (P<0.001) and from 64+/-8 to 58+/-11 mm (P<0.001). Left atrial dimension decreased from 53+/-8 to 47+/-7 mm (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Excellent results of combined restrictive annuloplasty and CABG were obtained. Residual mitral regurgitation was absent/minimal at 2-year follow-up, associated with a significant reduction in left atrial dimension and LV reverse remodeling.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2004

Long-term follow-up of coronary artery bypass grafting in three-vessel disease using exclusively pedicled bilateral internal thoracic and right gastroepiploic arteries.

BACKGROUND: Considerable data now exist that show that coronary artery bypass grafting with bilateral internal thoracic artery (ITA) grafts produce better outcomes than the use of a single ITA graft. The benefit of a third arterial graft has been less well established. Therefore this article describes the survival and cardiac-related event-free survival in patients having bilateral ITA and gastroepiploic artery (GEA) grafting for 3-vessel disease. METHODS: From November 1992 to May 2002, 201 patients (mean age 53 +/- 7 years) presented with 3-vessel disease and received exclusively bilateral internal thoracic (ITAs) and right gastroepiploic (GEA) arteries as pedicled grafts for coronary artery bypass procedure. Twenty-seven (13%) patients were not elective, 10 (5%) were reoperations, 115 (57%) had one or more myocardial infarction, 21 (10%) had diabetes. In total 733 anastomoses were constructed (3.7/patient), with sequential grafting in 124 (62%) patients. The clinical follow-up was complete. The patients were followed for up to 10 years (mean 6.4 +/- 2.7 years). RESULTS: Ten-year actuarial survival (including in-hospital death) was 87%. The actuarial freedom from angina pectoris, after hospital discharge, was 97% and 86% at 5 and 10 years respectively. None of the patients needed a repeat surgical revascularization after leaving the hospital, whereas 9 (5%) patients underwent a percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. At 5 years 86% and at 10 years 69% of the patients remained free of any cardiac-related event. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study clearly indicate that the exclusive and extensive use of pedicled bilateral ITA and GEA in coronary bypass grafting provides excellent 10-year patient survival and functional improvement in terms of freedom from return of angina pectoris and, more impressive, freedom from any cardiac-related event. Our findings clearly corroborate the concomitant use of bilateral ITA and GEA grafts in selected patients with 3-vessel disease.

Adult↗