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Biomedical subjects

K Caidahl

Publications and source records attributed to K Caidahl.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Predictors for recurrent chest pain and relationship to myocardial ischaemia during long-term follow-up after coronary artery bypass grafting.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the impact of coronary artery bypass grafting on chest pain during 2 years of follow-up after the operation and to identify predictors of chest pain and its relationship to myocardial ischaemia 2 years after the operation. METHODS: Patients were approached with a questionnaire at the time of coronary angiography (1291) and 3 months (1664), 1 year (1638) and 2 years (1613) after coronary artery bypass grafting. Two years after the operation, a computerised 12-lead electrocardiogram was obtained during a standardised bicycle exercise test (618). RESULTS: Prior to surgery, 37% of the patients were unable to perform physical activity compared with 6% after the operation (P < 0.0001 for change in degree of limitation). Only 3% had no chest pain at all prior to the operation, while 58% of the patients were free from chest pain 2 years after surgery (P < 0.0001). We found no correlation between patients reporting chest pain and signs of ischaemia at exercise test, but there was a highly significant correlation with chest pain during the exercise test (P < 0.0001). Independent predictors of chest pain were severity of preoperative angina (P < 0.0001), younger age (P = 0.0009), previous coronary artery bypass grafting (P = 0.003), duration of symptoms (P = 0.005), the need for prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (P = 0.04) and the absence of left main stenosis (P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Independent predictors of chest pain were identified 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting. There was a dramatic improvement after coronary artery bypass grafting. However, almost half the patients complained of some kind of chest pain even after the operation. This chest pain correlated well with chest pain during the exercise test but not with signs of myocardial ischaemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Impact of coronary artery bypass grafting on various aspects of quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively study the improvement in quality of life (QoL) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 2121) who underwent CABG at Sahlgrenska University Hospital between 1988 and 1991 received 3 questionnaires for the study of QoL: the Physical Activity Score, the Nottingham Health Profile and the Psychological General Well-being Index, which were responded both before surgery and at 3 months (n = 1059), 1 year (n = 1045) and 2 years (n = 1027) postoperatively. RESULTS: All differences were tested against baseline. The Physical Activity Score improved (mean 4.3 before CABG, 3.1, 3 months after (P < 0.0001), and 2.8, 2 years postoperatively (P < 0.0001)). The Nottingham Health Profile score improved (mean 20.5 before CABG, 11.4, 3 months (P < 0.0001), and 10.4, 2 years postoperatively (P < 0.0001)). The Psychological General Well-being Index improved (mean 91.1 before CABG, 103.8, 3 months (P < 0.0001), and 105.8 (P < 0.0001), 2 years after CABG). The subscale analyses of the Nottingham Health Profile and the Psychological General Well-being Index 2 years after CABG showed the greatest improvement in areas reflecting physical capacity and pain, to be followed by mental qualities. At 2 years after CABG only sexual problems were still markedly frequent, and independent predictors for sexual problems after surgery were preoperative problems (P < 0.00001), male sex (P < 0.0001), and diabetes mellitus (P = 0.0008). CONCLUSION: QoL was markedly and significantly improved after CABG. The major improvement was seen already at 3 months, with further slight improvement observed 2 years after surgery. The major improvement was found in areas reflecting physical capacity and pain, which is consistent with symptomatic and objective measurements after CABG. In contrast to the overall improvement in QoL sexual problems were still markedly common 2 years after CABG. The mechanism for this is not fully understood and needs further investigation.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Mortality and morbidity among patients who undergo combined valve and coronary artery bypass surgery: early and late results.

AIM: To describe mortality and morbidity early and late after combined valve surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as compared with CABG alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients from western Sweden in whom CABG in combination with valve surgery or CABG alone was carried out in 1988-1991. RESULTS: Among 2116 patients who underwent CABG, 35 (2%) had this combined with mitral valve surgery and 134 (6%) had this combined with aortic valve surgery, whereas the remaining 92% underwent CABG alone. Patients who underwent combined valve surgery and CABG were older, included more women and had a higher prevalence of previous congestive heart failure and renal dysfunction but on the other hand a less severe coronary artery disease. Among patients who underwent mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG the mortality over the subsequent 5 years was 45%). The corresponding figure for patients who underwent aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG was 24%. Both were higher than for CABG alone (14%; P < 0.0001 and P = 0.003, respectively). In a stepwise multiple regression model mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG was found to be an independent significant predictor for death but aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG was not. Among patients who underwent mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG and were discharged alive from hospital 77% were rehospitalized during the 2 years following the operation as compared with 48% among patients who underwent aortic valve surgery in combination with CABG and 43% among patients with CABG alone. Multiple regression identified mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG as a significant independent predictor for rehospitalization but not aortic valve plus CABG. CONCLUSION: Among patients who either underwent CABG in combination with mitral valve surgery or aortic valve surgery or CABG alone, mitral valve surgery in combination with CABG was independently associated with death and rehospitalization, but the combination of aortic valve surgery and CABG was not.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Impact of a history of diabetes mellitus on quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting.

AIM: To describe the improvement in various aspects of quality of life (QoL) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), in relation to a previous history of diabetes mellitus. PATIENTS: All patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991 without simultaneous valve surgery. METHODS: Patients were approached with three questionnaires: The Physical Activity Score, the Nottingham Health Profile and the Psychological General Well-being Index prior to surgery and 3 months, 1 and 2 years thereafter. RESULTS: All three questionnaires already showed a significant improvement in QoL after 3 months, remaining at a similar level 1 and 2 years after the operation. In terms of Physical Activity Score improvement was of similar magnitude in diabetic and non-diabetic patients. In terms of the Psychological General Well-Being Index significant and similar improvements were found in diabetic and non-diabetic patients at each evaluation. In terms of the Nottingham Health Profile there was a significant improvement both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients 3 months, 1 and 2 years after the operation. However, improvement was more marked in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients at each evaluation. CONCLUSION: For 3 months, 1 and 2 years after CABG various aspects of QoL as estimated with three different instruments, improved significantly both in diabetic and in non-diabetic patients compared with the situation prior to the operation. However, the three instruments differed somewhat. Thus, whereas in the Physical Activity Score, diabetic patients tended to improve less markedly than non-diabetic patients, the opposite was found in the Nottingham Health Profile.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMed1997

Improvement in various estimates of quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with and without a history of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To describe various estimates of the quality of life (QOL) prior to and for 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with a history of hypertension compared with nonhypertensives. METHODS: Patients in western Sweden in whom CABG had been performed between 1988 and 1991 participated. Their QOL was estimated from the Physical Activity Score, the Nottingham Health Profile, and the Psychological General Well-being Index. RESULTS: All three questionnaires detected a significant improvement in QOL already at 3 months, which persisted at 1 and 2 years both for hypertensive and for nonhypertensive patients. With the Physical Activity Score and the Psychological General Well-being Index the improvement in QOL of hypertension patients was less marked 3 months after the operation compared with that of nonhypertensives (P < 0.05). Two years after the CABG improvement was less marked for hypertensive patients than it was for nonhypertensive patients in terms of the Physical Activity Score (P < 0.01). With the Nottingham Health Profile the improvement was similar for hypertensive and nonhypertensive patients at each evaluation after the operation. With all three measures the results indicated that hypertensive patients had a worse QOL that did nonhypertensive patients. However, in a multivariate analysis considering other risk indicators simultaneously, a history of hypertension did not appear as an independent risk indicator for an adverse QOL 2 years after CABG. CONCLUSION: There was a significant improvement in various QOL estimates after CABG both for hypertensive and for nonhypertensive patients. The degree of improvement tended to be less marked for hypertensive patients than it was for nonhypertensive patients, especially 3 months after the operation and concerning physical activities. Hypertensives had a worse QOL than did nonhypertensives. However, the differences were small and could mainly be explained in terms of factors other than hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Effects of halothane and isoflurane on left ventricular diastolic function during surgical stress in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The effects of inhalation anesthetics on left ventricular (LV) systolic function are well documented, while the effects of these agents on LV diastolic function have mainly been evaluated in animal studies, with conflicting results. METHODS: We investigated the effects of halothane and isoflurane, when used to control the stress response to sternotomy in 33 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). LV early diastolic relaxation and end-diastolic stiffness were evaluated from mitral Doppler flow profiles, transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography, and central hemodynamic measurements. Measurements were performed a) after induction of anesthesia, b) after volume loading, c) prior to surgery and d) during surgery, 10 min after introduction of the inhalation anesthetic. The effects of the anesthetics on Doppler indices reflecting early diastolic relaxation, and on the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure-area (LVED P/A) relationship, were studied. RESULTS: When data obtained during surgical stress were compared to the control situation, we found an increase in the LV filling pressures in both groups, while only the isoflurane group showed an increase in heart rate. An increase in end-systolic LV area and decreased fractional area change was present in the halothane group, while an increase in LV end-diastolic area, and similar changes in the mitral Doppler indices (decreases of deceleration rate and time of early diastolic filling), indicating an impairment of early diastolic relaxation, was present in both groups. Isoflurane induced a displacement of the LVED P/A relationship leftwards from the baseline LVED P/A curve. CONCLUSION: Both halothane and isoflurane impair early diastolic relaxation in patients with CAD, when used to control intraoperative surgical stress. In contrast to halothane, isoflurane induced a change in the LVED P/A relationship, suggestive of an increased LVED stiffness.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Limitation of physical activity, dyspnea and chest pain prior to and during two years after coronary artery bypass grafting in relation to a history of hypertension.

AIM: To describe the limitation of physical activity, the cause of limitation of physical activity and symptoms of dyspnea and chest pain before and 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in relation to a history of hypertension. METHODS: All patients from western Sweden who underwent CABG between 1988 and 1991 were approached with a questionnaire--prior to, 3 months and 2 years after CABG--evaluating the issues raised above. RESULTS: Of 2121 patients, 37% had a history of hypertension. By 3 months after CABG, physical activity tolerance had improved markedly and in a similar way for both hypertensive (p<0.001) and non-hypertensive patients (p<0.001); this level was sustained for 2 years. Absence of dyspnea increased markedly and similarly among both hypertensive and non-hypertensive patients (p < 0.001) after CABG. The presence of chest pain decreased markedly and similarly among hypertensive (p<0.001) and non-hypertensive patients (p<0.001), both 3 months and 2 years after compared to prior to the operation. CONCLUSION: There was a marked improvement in terms of physical activity and cardiovascular symptoms 3 months and 2 years after CABG as compared with the situation prior to the operation. A previous history of hypertension did not seem to affect these results.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1996

Changes in early and late diastolic filling patterns induced by long-term adrenergic beta-blockade in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: beta-Blockers have been used in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy to improve cardiac performance and theoretically would be beneficial to diastolic function. However, there are few reports on changes in diastolic function during chronic pharmacological treatment of congestive heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study was a substudy in the international Metoprolol in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Trial. Transmitral Doppler echocardiography was used to evaluate diastolic function in 77 patients randomly assigned to placebo (n = 37) or metoprolol (n = 40). The patients were treated for 12 months. Changes in Doppler flow variables in the metoprolol group implied a less restrictive filling pattern, expressed as an increase in E-wave deceleration time (placebo, 185 +/- 126 to 181 +/- 64 ms; metoprolol, 152 +/- 63 to 216 +/- 78 ms; P = .01, placebo versus metoprolol). Maximal increase in deceleration time had occurred by 3 months, whereas systolic recovery was achieved gradually and maximal effect was seen by 12 months of treatment. Although deceleration time was correlated to heart rate at baseline, changes in deceleration time were not significantly correlated to changes in heart rate during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: During the first 3 months of treatment, maximal effects on diastolic variables were reached, whereas the most prominent effect on systolic function was seen late in the study. It is suggested that effects on diastolic filling account for subsequent later myocardial systolic recovery. The E-wave deceleration time, which in recent studies has been shown to be a powerful predictor of survival, was significantly improved in the metoprolol-treated patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1996

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide as an indicator of left ventricular systolic function and long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction. Comparison with plasma atrial natriuretic peptide and N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the N-terminal fragment of the ANP prohormone (N-ANP) are associated with decreased left ventricular function and decreased long-term survival after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Previous data suggest that plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) may increase proportionally more than plasma ANP after AMI and in chronic heart failure. The diagnostic and prognostic value of plasma BNP as an indicator of left ventricular dysfunction and long-term survival after AMI, relative to that of ANP and N-ANP, remain to be established. METHODS AND RESULTS: Venous blood samples for analysis of ANP, N-ANP, and BNP were obtained on day 3 after symptom onset from 131 patients with documented AMI. Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined by echocardiography in a subsample of 79 patients. Twenty-eight cardiovascular and 3 noncardiovascular deaths occurred during the follow-up period (median, 1293 days). All three peptides proved to be powerful predictors of cardiovascular mortality by univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses (ANP: P < .0001; N-ANP: P = .0002; BNP: P < .0001). In a multivariate model, plasma BNP (P = .021) but not ANP (P = .638) or N-ANP (P = .782) provided additional prognostic information beyond left ventricular ejection fraction. Logistic regression analysis showed that ANP (P = .003) and N-ANP (P = .027) but not BNP (P = .14) were significantly associated with a left ventricular ejection fraction < or = 45%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that plasma BNP determination provides important, independent prognostic information after AMI. Although plasma ANP appears to be a better predictor of left ventricular dysfunction, plasma BNP may have greater potential to complement standard prognostic indicators used in risk stratification after AMI because of its strong, independent association with long-term survival, enhanced in vitro stability, and simplicity of analysis.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Improvement in quality of life and exercise capacity after coronary bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Outcome after coronary artery bypass grafting is usually evaluated by exercise stress testing. Increased exercise capacity and reduced angina pectoris have been equated with improved quality of life, but this represents a limited view. OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate the effects of coronary artery bypass grafting on quality of life and exercise capacity and their interrelationship. METHODS: In a consecutive series of patients (N = 2365) who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting, we administered a questionnaire to assess quality of life before and 2 years after surgery. A standardized exercise test was performed during the year before surgery and 2 years after. A preoperative exercise test was performed by 726 patients. Among these patients, 462 completed a quality-of-life questionnaire preoperatively and 578 did so postoperatively. Preoperative and postoperative exercise tests were obtained from 362 patients. RESULTS: The improvement in quality of life was related to the severity of preoperative angina (P < .001) and female sex (P = .004) and was inversely related to preoperative exercise performance (P = .04). The improvement in exercise capacity was greater among men (P < .001) and was inversely related to preoperative exercise capacity (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The greatest improvement in quality of life after coronary artery bypass grafting appeared in those patients with the most impaired exercise capacity, those with the most severe angina pectoris, and women. Improvement in exercise capacity was greatest in patients with the poorest preoperative exercise capacity and in men. These findings indicate that exercise testing is of limited value as a measure of quality of life and that assessment by a questionnaire has a complementary place.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Effect of enalapril initiated early after acute myocardial infarction on heart failure parameters, with reference to clinical class and echocardiographic determinants. CONSENSUS II Multi-Echo Study Group.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: Although the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril has recently been shown to reduce mortality and the need for hospitalization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure, this drug was found to have no significant impact on short-term mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the CONSENSUS II trial. The effect of enalapril initiated early after AMI on clinical and echocardiographic determinants of left ventricular (LV) function was studied in a subset of patients from CONSENSUS II. METHODS: Symptoms and signs of heart failure were classified as NYHA and dyspnea classes. Echocardiography included LV end-systolic volumes (ESV) and end-diastolic volumes (EDV), as well as ejection fraction (EF), wall motion index (WMI), and mitral flow indices. In all, 428 patients were included and followed for an average of 5.1 months by serial examinations, starting 2-5 days after myocardial infarction (MI) and repeated after 1 month and at the completion of the study. RESULTS: There was no beneficial effect of enalapril on clinically determined function. Changes (i.e., changes in NYHA class) in the functional status remained correlated with changes in echocardiographic determinants throughout the study in patients belonging to the placebo group: EDV index (r = 0.36, p = 0.002, ESV index (r = 0.49, p < 0.001), EF (r = -0.41, p < 0.001), and WMI (r = 0.29, p = 0.008). In a stepwise logistic regression model, the best baseline parameters to predict NYHA class at final visit in all patients were age (p = 0.014) and ESV index (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Enalapril treatment for an average period of 5.1 months following MI resulted in no clinically significant beneficial effects on NYHA and dyspnea class. Changes in clinical function class were correlated with changes in echocardiographic determinants in placebo-treated patients, but not in patients given enalapril.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Benefit of converting enzyme inhibition on left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in patients receiving beta-blockade after myocardial infarction. CONSENSUS II multiecho study group.

Beta-blockers reduce infarct size and improve survival after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Post-MI angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition also improves survival and may attenuate left ventricular (LV) dilatation. We evaluated the effect of early enalapril treatment on LV volumes and ejection fraction (EF) in patients on concomitant beta-blockade after MI. Intravenous enalaprilat or placebo was administered <24 hours after MI and was continued orally for 6 months. LV volumes were assessed by echocardiography 3 +/- 2 days, 1 and 6 months after MI. Change in LV diastolic volume during the first month was attenuated with enalapril (2.7 vs placebo 6.5 ml/m2 change; p < 0.05), and significantly lower LV diastolic and systolic volumes were observed with enalapril treatment compared with placebo at 1 month (enalapril 47.21 23.9 vs placebo 53.1/29.2 ml/m2; p < 0.05) and at 6 months (enalapril 47.9/24.8 vs placebo 53.8/29.6 ml/m2; p < 0.05). EF was also significantly higher 1 month after MI in these patients (enalapril 50.4% vs placebo 46.4%; p < 0.05). Our date demonstrate that early enalapril treatment attenuates LV volume expansion and maintains lower LV volumes and higher EF in patients receiving concurrent beta-blockade after MI. A possible additive effect of combined therapy should be evaluated prospectively.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1996

Early effects of coronary artery bypass surgery and cold cardioplegic ischemia on left ventricular diastolic function: evaluation by computer-assisted transesophageal echocardiography.

OBJECTIVE: Although left ventricular (LV) systolic function undergoes a temporary decrease after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), data on the effects of CABG and cardioplegic arrest on LV diastolic function are contradictory. The objective of the present study was to further evaluate the effects of CABG and CPB on LV diastolic function. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: A multi-institutional investigation at a university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 20 patients on beta-receptor antagonists, scheduled for CABG and with a preoperative ejection fraction over 0.5. INTERVENTIONS: Central hemodynamic measurements, transesophageal LV short-axis images, and mitral Doppler flow profiles were obtained before and after volume loading that in turn was performed both before surgical incision and after weaning from CPB. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Heart rate, cardiac output, and peak atrial filling velocity increased; systemic vascular resistance decreased; whereas stroke volume, LV area ejection fraction, deceleration rate and slope of early diastolic filling, time-velocity integral of early diastolic filling, and the ratio between early and atrial peak filling velocity were unchanged post-CPB compared with pre-CPB. LV end-diastolic stiffness that was calculated for each patient pre-CPB and post-CPB using the formula: P = B*eS*A), where P is the LV filling pressure and A is the end-diastolic short-axis area, was unchanged post-CPB compared with pre-CPB. CONCLUSIONS: Both the active and passive components of LV diastolic function are well maintained shortly after CABG and cardioplegic arrest in patients with a good preoperative systolic LV function.

Coronary Artery Bypass↗
PubMed1996

Long-term cardiovascular effects of growth hormone treatment in GH-deficient adults. Preliminary data in a small group of patients.

OBJECTIVE: The long-term cardiovascular effects of GH administration in adults are of major clinical importance, given the increasing use of such treatment. We have evaluated long-term cardiovascular effects of recombinant human GH (rhGH) substitution in GH deficient men. DESIGN: S.c. rhGH 0.5 U/kg/week or placebo was administered in a 6-month double-blind, cross-over study, followed (after a year without substitution) by a 42-month period of open GH substitution. PATIENTS: We evaluated 7 GH-deficient men serially and compared the results with 21 men matched in terms of age and height. MEASUREMENTS: Investigations included exercise tests and Doppler-echocardiography to determine exercise capacity and cardiovascular performance. RESULTS: Heart rate and systolic blood pressure at rest increased with GH substitution to the level of the controls, as did diastolic blood pressure after an initial reduction. Age-adjusted exercise capacity increased during the study and we found no evidence of ischaemic heart disease on exercise ECG. Stroke volume increased with GH substitution, thereby normalizing the initially reduced cardiac index. There was no significant change in left atrial or ventricular internal dimensions, systolic function as measured by fractional shortening, or diastolic function as measured by isovolumic relaxation time and left ventricular filling (A/E ratio). However, a lower atrial emptying index than that seen among controls might indicate some diastolic disturbance and there was a definite increase in left ventricular wall thickness compared with controls (to 25.1 +/- 1.5 vs 19.7 +/- 0.4 mm, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that GH substitution in GH-deficient adults had a beneficial effect on physical performance and cardiac output. The concomitant increase in left ventricular mass index might be an effect of an excessive substitution dose.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Death, mode of death, morbidity and requirement for rehospitalization during 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting in relation to preoperative ejection fraction.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the impact of ejection fraction on the prognosis during 2 years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). PATIENTS: All patients in western Sweden who underwent CABG without concomitant valve surgery between June 1988 and June 1991. RESULTS: In all, 2121 patients were operated upon and information on ejection fraction was available for 1961 patients (92%). Of these patients, 178 (9%) had an ejection fraction < 40%, 517 (26%) an ejection fraction of 40-59% and 1266 (65%) an ejection fraction > or = 60%. In these groups the mortalities during the first 30 days after CABG were 5.1, 4.3 and 2.2%, respectively (P < 0.01). The corresponding values for mortalities between 30 days and 2 years were 7.7, 4.3 and 3.3%, respectively (P < 0.01). Patients with a lower ejection fraction were more frequently men and more frequently had a history of cardiovascular disease. In multivariate analysis the preoperative ejection fraction was an independent predictor for total 2-year mortality. Patients with a low ejection fraction died more frequently in association with ventricular fibrillation. Morbidity was, with the exception of that for rehospitalization due to heart failure and infection, not associated significantly with the preoperative ejection fraction. CONCLUSION: During the 2 years after CABG a low preoperative ejection fraction was associated with a higher mortality, but the association with morbidity was more complex.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Preoperative echocardiographic prediction of small prosthesis size for aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Prosthesis size is known to have an effect on long term outcome after heart valve replacement. We evaluated 115 patients subjected to aortic valve replacement to assess the ability by preoperative echocardiography to identify patients having small aortic roots and thereby likely to receive a small prosthesis (size 19 or 21), previously shown to be associated with a worse prognosis. METHODS: From an initial part of the study (Group A), comprising 67 patients, we evaluated the influence of image quality on the accuracy for prediction of patients receiving a small prosthesis. In a second series of 48 patients (Group B), we tested the predictive value of various limits of aortic annulus diameter to define patients at risk of receiving a small prosthesis. RESULTS: The measurement of aortic annulus diameter in Group A gave a reasonable correlation to subsequent prosthetic dimension (r = 0.73, n = 59). However, there was a considerable variation of echocardiographic aortic annulus diameter among patients receiving prostheses of the same size. In Group B, an aortic annulus diameter of < or = 22 mm correctly identified 10 of 13 patients receiving a small prosthesis (sensitivity 77%). Twenty-two of 25 patients (88%) with an aortic annulus diameter > 22 mm received a large prosthesis. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the echocardiographic measurement of the aortic annulus diameter is a fairly sensitive method to identify patients receiving a small prosthesis. However, the predictive accuracy is dependent upon training as well as image quality. Furthermore, the value of planning in advance the type of prosthesis, annuloplasty or homograft for aortic valve replacement remains to be shown.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Neurohumoral measurements as indicators of long-term prognosis after acute myocardial infarction.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic accuracy and usefulness of neurohumoral determination as a risk stratification tool after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by comparing the long-term prognostic value of subacute neurohumoral measurements with other established indicators of adverse outcome. The study included 145 patients with documented AMI. During a median follow-up of 3.7 years, 30 cardiovascular and 6 noncardiovascular deaths occurred. By univariate analysis, plasma atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and endothelin levels were strongly related to long-term cardiovascular mortality. In multivariate models, both peptides added prognostic information to that obtained from clinical evaluation, but not to that obtained from left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Estimation of the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve showed comparable prognostic accuracy for LVEF (0.7788), plasma ANF (0.7795), plasma endothelin (0.7493), and Killip classification (0.8203), meaning that for all these prognostic indicators, a randomly selected patient from the group of patients dying will have a test value larger than that of a randomly selected patient from the group of surviving patients 75% to 82% of the time. The clinical usefulness of neurohumoral determination in routine risk stratification after AMI appears to be limited since no additional prognostic information to that provided by objective evaluation of LV systolic function is obtained. However, in patients for whom objective assessment of LV performance is not readily available, measurement of plasma ANF and endothelin may be helpful in identifying asymptomatic patients at risk for cardiac death.

Aged↗