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Biomedical subjects

Nicola Luciani

Publications and source records attributed to Nicola Luciani.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Risks of using internal thoracic artery grafts in patients in chronic hemodialysis via upper extremity arteriovenous fistula.

BACKGROUND: In patients in chronic hemodialysis via upper extremity arteriovenous fistula in whom ipsilateral internal thoracic artery graft was used for myocardial revascularization, hemodynamic interference between the fistula and the graft during dialysis can be hypothesized. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 5 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis via upper extremity arteriovenous fistula, ipsilateral to an internal thoracic to left anterior descending graft mammary flow was studied by means of transthoracic echo-color Doppler at baseline and during hemodialysis. Flow in the contralateral mammary artery was used as control. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in concomitance with flow evaluation to assess eventual modifications of left ventricular segmental wall motion. Immediately after hemodialysis pump start there was a marked reduction of peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities and time average mean velocity and flow in the ITA ipsilateral to the fistula, whereas no substantial hemodynamic modification was evident in the contralateral artery. Dialysis-induced reduction of ipsilateral ITA flow was accompanied by evidence of hypokinesia of the anterior left ventricular wall. Three cases also experienced clinical angina. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamically evident flow steal and consequent myocardial ischemia develop during hemodialysis in patients with upper extremity arteriovenous fistula and ipsilateral internal thoracic artery to coronary graft. These data have major implications for patients' management, both for nephrologists and cardiac surgeons.

Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical↗
PubMed2003

Early and late arrhythmias in patients in preoperative sinus rhythm submitted to mitral valve surgery through the superior septal approach.

BACKGROUND: It has been hypothesized that the use of the superior septal approach to the mitral valve can lead to postoperative loss of sinus rhythm. This study was undertaken to evaluate the early and mid-term alterations of the cardiac rhythm in patients with preoperative sinus rhythm (SR) submitted to mitral valve surgery through the superior septal approach. METHODS: Seventy-five cases in preoperative SR submitted to primary isolated mitral valve surgery through the superior septal approach constitute the study population. All patients underwent 12-lead electrocardiography on admission, every day after surgery until discharge and every year during the follow-up period. RESULTS: On admission in the intensive care unit, 46 cases maintained their preoperative rhythm, whereas 18 developed a junctional rhythm (JR) and 7 had a first- or second-degree atrio-ventricular block (AVB). Four cases arrived in the unit in atrial fibrillation (AF). On the first postoperative day, these proportions were substantially unchanged, with the only exception being a slight increase in the number of patients in AF. The day before discharge, only 35 of the 74 surviving cases maintained the preoperative SR, whereas 13 developed AF, 10 were in JR, and 16 were in AVB. During the follow-up period (mean, 26 +/- 14 months), the majority of cases (47/74) regained SR; 11 patients had AVB, 3 were in JR, and the remaining 13 were in AF. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the superior septal approach for mitral valve procedures in patients in preoperative SR is associated with minor, transient cardiac rhythm disturbances.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Coronary artery bypass grafting in type II diabetic patients: a comparison between insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent patients at short- and mid-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a well-established risk factor for coronary artery disease, and it is associated with an increased rate of early and late adverse events after myocardial revascularization by coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: A prospective follow-up study was done to evaluate the short-term and mid-term outcomes of type II diabetic patients who had coronary artery bypass grafting at our institution between 1996 and May 1999. A total of 200 patients, 100 insulin-dependent diabetic patients (group I) and 100 non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients (group II), met the inclusion criteria of the study and were included in the clinical follow-up study. RESULTS: The characteristics of the patients of the two groups were similar for baseline clinical angiographic and operative characteristics. In particular, no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping times were noted between the two groups. The number grafts per patient was similar between the two groups. There were no in-hospital deaths, but postoperative complications were different among the two series. In fact, 33% of patients in group I had at least one major complication compared with 20% in group II (p = 0.037). The cumulative number of complications was 148 in group I and 69 in group II, and the mean number of complications per patient was 4.5 and 3.5 in groups I and II, respectively. The major differences in perioperative complication rates were found in the need for prolonged (> 24 hours) ventilation, occurrence of respiratory or renal insufficiency, and mediastinitis. The mean length of stay in the intensive care unit and for total hospitalization were longer in group I than group II (4.3 +/- 2.8 days versus 2.8 +/- 2.7 days [p = 0.010] and 11.1 +/- 2.2 days versus 7.2 +/- 2.4 group II [p < 0.05], respectively). At long-term follow-up, group I patients had a significantly higher mortality rate (29% versus 10%, p < 0.001). Moreover, overall late cardiac and noncardiac complication rates were significantly higher in group I than II (37% versus 22%, p = 0.02). In the multivariate analysis including several preoperative and operative variables, treatment by insulin, advanced age (> 75 years), left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction < 35%), and complex lesions at coronary angiography (American Heart Association lesion classification type C lesion) were found as independent predictors of increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that patients with insulin-dependent type II diabetes who had coronary artery bypass grafting have a significantly higher rate of major postoperative complications with an extremely unfavorable short- and long-term prognosis. Diabetic patients on insulin treatment should be considered high-risk candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting and require intense perioperative and long-term monitoring. Further studies will be necessary to investigate whether such conclusions may be appropriate for newer surgical strategies such as off-pump operation.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Treatment of mediastinitis using an open irrigation and delayed sternal reconstruction with a pectoralis major muscle flap.

BACKGROUND: Mediastinitis is a very serious complication after cardiac surgery. To date, the optimal treatment of mediastinitis is still controversial: the "closed wound" procedures and the "open wound" treatments are the two conventional modalities reported in the literature. METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 2000, 20 patients, who had previously been submitted to cardiac surgery, were treated by a modification of the "open wound" treatment strategy for postoperative mediastinitis. All patients were scheduled for 2, 6, and 12-month clinical follow-up. The procedure performed consisted of three major steps: 1) early sternum reopening, followed by phase 2) including irrigation of the wound 3 times daily, and the final step 3) of delayed reconstructive surgery using the pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flap closure technique. We prospectively analyzed the short- and long-term results of these procedures. RESULTS: The overall duration of hospitalization was 25 +/- 10 days; no patient required intensive care unit permanency. Clinical success was achieved in all 20 cases (100%). No recurrences of local (such as fistulas or abscesses) or systemic infections were noted, and no patient required sternal reopening during follow-up. An optimal cosmetic result was obtained in all patients and only 2 cases had persistent sternal pain regressing at the 6-month follow-up control. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that for patients with severe mediastinitis, this treatment strategy is safe. The clinical and esthetic success rates are high, the recovery time rapid, and the rates of short- and long-term complications very low.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

[Heart surgery interventions in chronic dialysis patients: short- and long-term results].

BACKGROUND: Chronic dialysis is a relevant risk factor for mortality and morbidity after cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term follow-up of patients in dialysis undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 24 consecutive chronic hemodialysis adult patients (14 males, 10 females, mean age 63 +/- 12 years) who, over a 10-year period, underwent operative cardiac procedures in our Institution. Prior to surgery the mean duration of dialysis was 55 +/- 18 months (minimum 3 months). Surgery included isolated coronary artery bypass grafting in 18 patients, aortic valve replacement in 3, mitral valve replacement in 2, and double valve replacement (mitral and aortic) in 1. Sixteen operations were elective whereas 8 (33%) were performed in an emergency setting. RESULTS: Seven operative deaths occurred with an overall in-hospital mortality of 29%. Among the 16 patients in whom surgery was elective, only 2 died. Five of the 8 patients submitted to emergency procedures died. Hence, the operative mortality in this subgroup of patients was 62% (p < 0.005). A low cardiac output and multiorgan failure due to pulmonary infection were the most important causes of death. However 75% of patients experienced some major postoperative complications. All survivors were followed up for 6 to 108 months (mean 33.7 +/- 29.5 months). The overall functional status was significantly improved. Survival at 1, 2 and 5 years was 68, 63 and 45% respectively in coronary patients and 65, 58 and 42% in the overall study population. CONCLUSIONS: In dialysis-dependent patients major cardiac procedures can be carried out with an acceptable risk only in elective conditions even if the mortality is 4-5-fold higher than in the normal population and the life expectancy is similar to that of patients in chronic dialysis but without cardiac disease.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Polydioxanone sternal sutures for prevention of sternal dehiscence.

BACKGROUND: Sternal dehiscence and wound instability are troublesome complications following median sternotomy. Classic sternal approximation with stainless steel wires may not be the ideal approach in patients predisposed to these complications. We tested the efficacy of polydioxanone (PDS) suture in sternal closure and in prevention of complications in comparison to steel wires in high-risk individuals. METHODS: Three hundred sixty-six patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with full median sternotomy and having body surface area (BSA) less than 1.5 m(2) were randomly assigned to receive PDS (n = 181) or stainless steel (SS, n = 185) sternal approximation. The study was focused on aseptic sternal complications, namely bone dehiscence and superficial wound instability. RESULTS: Both bone dehiscence and superficial wound instability were less frequent in the PDS Group (4 and 3 cases in the SS Group, respectively, vs. no cases in the PDS Group). Cox proportional hazards regression model in the whole study population identified female sex, chronic renal insufficiency, diabetes, advanced age, lower sternal thickness, osteoporosis, corticosteroid therapy, and prolonged CPB or ventilation times as predisposing factors to any of the two studied sternal complications. DISCUSSION: Data suggest that PDS suture can protect against development of aseptic sternal complications following median sternotomy in high-risk patients with little body mass. The adoption of PDS in other subsets of patients, i.e., obese individuals, is to be questioned.

Aged↗