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Biomedical subjects

L H Bouwels

Publications and source records attributed to L H Bouwels.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Atrial fibrillations: daily occurrence possibly leading to embolism in an extremity].

A 64-year old woman had been tired and short of breath for the previous few months. During the past few days she had experienced disruptions in the movement and feeling of the right arm and both feet as well as a loss of strength and a heavy feeling in her right leg. Due to atrial fibrillation she had recently started using digoxin and due to possible arterial embolisms in the extremities she had recently started using acenocoumarol. Further investigations revealed one large thrombus in the left atrium, two large thrombi in the left auricle and a serious constriction in the right iliac artery. The thrombi were treated with heparin and oral anticoagulants; the ischaemia which probably occurred as a result of this was successfully treated with embolectomy. After the cardiac thrombi had disappeared, the patient was electrically converted to sinus rhythm. One month later, the patient was still in sinus rhythm and her clinical picture had improved. As she does not feel the atrial fibrillation, she will be permanently maintained on oral anticoagulants. In patients with atrial fibrillations, the possibility of an embolisation towards the extremities deserves serious consideration.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMed2000

Furosemide withdrawal in elderly heart failure patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function.

To explore the possibilities of furosemide withdrawal in elderly heart failure (HF) patients with intact left ventricular (LV) systolic function and assess its effects on functional status and orthostatic blood pressure homeostasis, we performed a placebo-controlled pilot trial of furosemide withdrawal with 3 months of follow-up in 32 HF patients (aged 75.1 +/- 0.7 years [mean +/- SEM]) with a LV ejection fraction of 60 +/- 2% and without overt congestion. Investigations included repeated clinical assessment, spirometry, standardized 6-minute walking test, and chest x-rays. Measurements of blood pressure response on active standing and Doppler echocardiography were performed before and 3 months after furosemide withdrawal. Recurrent congestive HF occurred in 2 of 21 patients (10%) who discontinued furosemide use, and in 1 of 11 patients (9%) who continued furosemide (p = NS). Three patients restarted furosemide for ankle edema and 1 for blood pressure levels >180/100 mm Hg. After 3 months, there were no differences regarding HF symptom scores, blood pressure, heart rate, spirometric results, 6-minute walking distance, or quality of life scores between patients who discontinued use and patients who continued the therapy. In patients successfully withdrawn, Doppler E/A ratio increased from 0.68 +/- 0.05 to 0.79 +/- 0.06 after withdrawal (p <0.01), and maximum blood pressure decrease on active standing changed from -8 +/- 5 mm Hg to +5 +/- 3 mm Hg systolic (p <0.05). Thus, in this pilot investigation of furosemide withdrawal in elderly HF patients without overt congestion and with a normal LV systolic function, withdrawal was successful in almost all patients and was associated with improvement of LV diastolic filling and blood pressure homeostasis on active standing.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Furosemide withdrawal improves postprandial hypotension in elderly patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular systolic function.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of furosemide withdrawal on postprandial blood pressure (BP) in elderly patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular systolic function. METHODS: Noninvasive measurement of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate, computation of stroke volume and cardiac output (after a 1247-kJ (297-kcal) meal, and Doppler echocardiography before and 3 months after placebo-controlled withdrawal of furosemide therapy. RESULTS: Of 20 patients with heart failure (mean+/-SEM age, 75+/-1 years; left ventricular ejection fraction, 61%+/-3%), 13 were successfully able to discontinue furosemide therapy. At baseline, 11 (55%) of the 20 patients (had maximum postprandial systolic BP declines of 20 mm Hg or more. In the withdrawal group, the maximum systolic BP decline lessened from -25+/-4 to -11+/-2 mm Hg (P<.001) and the maximum diastolic BP from -18+/-3 to -9+/-1 mm Hg (P= .01), compared with no changes in the continuation group. In the withdrawal group, maximum postprandial declines in stroke volume and cardiac output decreased from -9+/-1 to -4+/-2 mL (P =.01) and from -0.6+/-0.2 to -0.2+/-0.1 L/min) (P = .04), respectively. The baseline maximum postprandial systolic BP decrease was correlated with the ratio of early to late flow (n = 20; Spearman rank correlation coefficient, 0.58; P = .007). For patients in the withdrawal group, the changes in postprandial systolic BP response were independently related to changes in peak velocity of early flow (n = 13; r2= 0.61; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS: Postprandial hypotension is common in elderly patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular systolic function. The withdrawal of furosemide therapy ameliorates postprandial BP homeostasis in these patients, possibly by improving left ventricular diastolic filling.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Acute rheumatic fever in a 33-year-old man].

In a 33-year-old man with an abnormal ECG three weeks after an episode of a sore throat, laboratory investigations revealed signs of a recent streptococcal infection. Mitral valvular and aortic valvular regurgitation were confirmed by echocardiography. The diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever was established according to the Jones criteria.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Angiographic appearance and re-operation in an adult patient with the Bland-Garland-White syndrome.

Reconstructive surgery was performed in a 57-year old woman in whom initially the left coronary artery had originated from the pulmonary trunk, producing progressive symptoms of congestive heart failure. Recurrence of shunting was documented by Doppler echocardiography and contrast angiography, necessitating a second surgical intervention 17 months after the first procedure.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed1990

ANP after AMI.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Atrial Natriuretic Factor↗