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Biomedical subjects

P E Blundell

Publications and source records attributed to P E Blundell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Pathophysiology of dynamic cardiomyoplasty: a clinico-pathological case study.

A 58-year-old man with end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy underwent dynamic cardiomyoplasty. "On" and "off" studies with the cardiac assist device failed to show any significant hemodynamic changes despite improvement in functional status. The patient's late postoperative course was complicated by two episodes of acute pulmonary edema followed by cardiac arrest. These events were precipitated by ventricular tachycardia. The last episode led to myocardial infarction requiring diastolic counterpulsation and inotropic support. He died 4 1/2 months following the cardiomyoplasty. Postmortem findings revealed an anterior left ventricular infarct with aneurysm. There was fusion of skeletal muscle to the epicardium with minimal fibrosis and atrophy. The latissimus dorsi (LD) flap was viable, but myofibrillar ATPase stain revealed incomplete transformation. Several clinical observations have emerged from the early experience with dynamic cardiomyoplasty: (1) Important arrhythmias and cardiac arrest compromise the vascular supply and thus power of the muscular flap; (2) Resting ejection fraction does not correlate with exercise tolerance, therefore, other parameters must be sought to explain improved functional status; (3) Uniform muscle transformation in humans may be unpredictable with current clinical stimulation protocols. The conformation of LD to the epicardium underscores a potential remodeling phenomenon which may ultimately spare the diseased myocardium by altering its oxygen supply/demand ratio and thus the natural history.

Cardiac Output↗
PubMed1987

Is high potassium solution necessary for reinfusions in "multidose" cold cardioplegia? A randomized prospective study using computerized Holter system.

Multidose potassium cardioplegia is a common method of myocardial preservation. Although initial potassium arrest conserves high-energy phosphates, there is conflicting evidence that repeat high potassium boluses augment this protection. Fifty-six patients were prospectively randomized to receive multidose cold high potassium cardioplegia (27 mEq of KCl/L) both in the initial and subsequent infusions (Group 1) or an initial cold high potassium (27 mEq/L) cardioplegia followed by boluses of cold low potassium (7 mEq, of KCl/L) solution (Group 2). The two groups were compared in terms of postoperative myocardial electrical stability and hemodynamic performance. Electrocardiograms were recorded by continuous Holter monitor, and the data were analyzed by computer. The duration of aortic cross-clamping and cardiopulmonary bypass did not differ between groups. Group 1, who received more total KCl than Group 2 (p less than .005), experienced more high-grade ventricular ectopia during both reperfusion (p less than .001) and the immediate postoperative period (p less than .001), and required more lidocaine hydrochloride (p less than .001) for arrhythmias. There was no significant difference in hemodynamic performance between the two groups. This study fails to show an advantage to multidose "high potassium" cardioplegia and found a significant increase in ventricular ectopia associated with its use. We advocate using low potassium solutions after initial cold high potassium arrest.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Chronic mesenteric vascular insufficiency with gastric ulceration.

Four middle-aged women presented with long histories of severe progressive weight loss and chronic abdominal pain. Endoscopically atypical gastric ulcers were identified in all; the ulcers were multiple and antral in location, with irregular shapes, sloping edges, and whitish sclerotic bases, and were surrounded by mottled and erythematous mucosa containing numerous superficial erosions. They did not heal with conservative therapy. All 4 patients were found to be suffering from chronic mesenteric vascular insufficiency. Balloon dilatation of the superior mesenteric artery in one and surgical revascularization in the others resulted in progressive clinical improvement and healing of the ulcers. The striking feature in these patients with mesenteric ischemia was the finding of gastric ulcers with a morphology different from the ordinary gastric ulcer, which healed only with revascularization. Future observation of similar lesions should suggest the possible diagnosis and expedite early treatment of mesenteric insufficiency in patients with this disorder.

Dilatation↗
PubMed1986

Predictive power of penile/brachial index in diagnosing male sexual impotence.

To evaluate the diagnostic power of penile/brachial index (PBI) in patients studied for male sexual impotence, we prospectively interviewed 503 patients referred to our vascular laboratory for PBI measurements. Since the predictive values of diagnostic tests are affected by the prevalence of the disease in the population studied, we calculated the independent likelihood ratio for various PBI levels obtained. For the purpose of this analysis, "organic" impotence was defined as occurring in patients who had no nocturnal erections, whereas "clinical" impotence was defined as occurring in those patients who could not achieve penetration during intercourse. The patients were divided into four groups by the presence or absence of risk factors, including peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and diabetes mellitus. Patients taking medications that may affect potency (n = 175) were excluded from this analysis. The results show that the predictive power of PBI is less in diabetic patients with PVD and least in those without either PVD, diabetes, or drugs. In patients with PVD but no other risk factors, PBI is highly diagnostic with a sharp cut-off point at 0.6. Thus, the diagnostic power of PBI can be improved by considering the risk factors in the patients studied.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Right hemothorax: an unusual presentation of ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The authors describe what they believe is the first reported case of rupture of an infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm into the right pleural cavity. A 75-year-old woman presented simultaneously with two common causes of severe abdominal pain and hypotension: perforated duodenal ulcer and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. The absence of an infrarenal retroperitoneal hematoma delayed the diagnosis of rupture of the abdominal aortic aneurysm and the terminal event was exsanguination into the right pleural cavity through an erosion in the right hemidiaphragm.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Perioperative Holter monitoring and computer analysis of dysrhythmias in cardiac surgery.

In order to increase the accuracy and efficiency of studying perioperative dysrhythmias, 52 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were fitted preoperatively with a Holter monitor adapted for intraoperative recording, and the preoperative, intraoperative and early postoperative cardiac electrical activities were classified with a digital computer. Forty patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), eight had valve replacements, and four had combined procedures. The results showed the following: (1) high incidence of various dysrhythmias occurring during anesthesia induction and thoracotomy prior to aortic cross-clamp; (2) high incidence of continued atrial activity during cardioplegia; (3) lack of correlation between peak serum CPK-MB levels and dysrhythmias; and (4) a higher overall incidence of dysrhythmias in valve patients. Adapting the Holter monitor technique for cardiac surgery can solve the problem of observer vigilance inherent to such a study using a human "monitor watcher," and facilitate the accurate analysis of the vast amount of data obtained. This is important in quantitating the electrophysiologic effects of various perioperative interventions, such as the anesthetic agents, beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, and cardioplegic solutions.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1985

Effects of abdominal aneurysmectomy, aortoiliac bypass grafting and angioplasty on male sexual potency: a prospective study.

The preoperative frequency and postoperative status of male sexual potency was studied prospectively in 46 patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy, aortoiliac and aortofemoral bypass grafting, or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac artery. The patients with aortic aneurysms were older; approximately half of them were potent. The frequency of impotence was highest in patients who underwent aortoiliac bypass, and correlated well with their low penile to brachial pressure index. Patients who had angioplasty had more localized lesions, a higher penile to brachial pressure index and the lowest rate of impotence. Postoperatively, 13% of the patients regained nocturnal erection and 10% became functionally potent (defined as the ability to achieve penetration). The improvements were similar in bypass and angioplasty patients. No patient experienced deterioration in sexual potency and all showed a markedly improved thigh to brachial pressure index postoperatively. Routine aortoiliofemoral artery angiograms were of limited value in predicting the status and outcome of sexual potency in this series of patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of iliac arteries: the importance of functional studies.

Results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of 60 iliac arteries are presented, with a follow-up of 3 to 12 months. The patency rate at 1 year was 95% using the thigh-brachial index as the criterion and 86% with the ankle-brachial index. Study of the patients with an exercise test component improved the sensitivity of the evaluation, demonstrating that both indices tend to underestimate the functional improvement. The authors propose a simple, cost-effective way for practitioners to follow-up their patients after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗
PubMed1981

Iatrogenic false aneurysms.

Of 270 patients operated upon for aneurysm, 25 patients underwent repair for 28 iatrogenic false aneurysms. Of these, 67.9% were complications of vascular reconstructive surgery and 64.3% occurred at the groin. Iatrogenic false aneurysm was associated with various prosthetic and suture materials and in many the attenuation of host arterial wall appeared to play an important role. Newer invasive procedures, such as arterial infusion of chemotherapeutic agents, also lead to formation of iatrogenic false aneurysm. Infections, present in 50% of the author's series, and intra-abdominal iatrogenic false aneurysm, with abdominal viscera forming part of the aneurysmal wall, posed a technical challenge. Iatrogenic false aneurysm is a potentially grave complication since the mortality and limb loss were each 8% in this series.

Aneurysm↗
PubMed1979

Second primary bronchogenic carcinoma: life-table analysis of surgical treatment.

Twelve patients had curative resection of primary bronchogenic carcinoma. Eleven to 84 months later, a second primary bronchogenic carcinoma was discovered and was operated on. Six patients underwent wedge resection, while the others had a lobectomy or pneumonectomy. There was no operative mortality. Two patients survived longer than 5 years. In addition to these patients, 26 patients who also had successive surgical resections for primary lung cancers were collected from the literature. Two operative deaths were related to respiratory insufficiency. Life-table analysis of this accumulated series of 38 patients revealed the survival rate 1 year after the resection of a second tumor to be 70%, and 2 and 3 years later, 55% and 27%, respectively. Thus, in patients in whom a second primary carcinoma of the lung develops, successive resections tailored to preserve respiratory reserve are compatible with low operative mortality and, in some instances, long-term survival.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1979

The importance of monitoring intramyocardial temperature during hypothermic myocardial protection.

In 50 patients undergoing cardiac operation, hypothermic cardioplegic solution was infused into the root of the aorta immediately after aortic cross-clamping. Cardiac standstill was achieved within 1 to 3 minutes. However, monitoring of intramyocardial temperature with a needle thermistor revealed that such core cooling is unpredictable (the intramyocardial temperature achieved ranged from 7 degrees to 33 degrees C), unstable (this temperature can rise at more than 0.5 degrees C per minute), and uneven (a difference of up to 17 degrees C was observed between the intramyocardial temperature of the anterior and posterior left ventricular sites). The area supplied by the stenotic coronary artery was least protected. Monitoring of intramyocardial temperature enables one to know when supplementary cooling is indicated. We conclude that widespread differences in this temperature during cardiac operation make monitoring advisable for optimal myocardial protection.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Femorofemoral bypass: a valuable procedure.

Twenty-seven femorofemoral bypasses were performed in 25 patients with severe arteriosclerosis obliterans affecting the iliofemoral arteries. The series comprised 16 men and 9 women, aged 51 to 80 years. Nineteen patients were poor-risk cases with severe cardiorespiratory disease. Twenty-one patients had undergone vascular procedures previously without success. The operation was carried out: (a) as the primary procedure for very poor-risk patients in an attempt to salvage a limb, (b) to deal with unilateral limb occlusion of an aortoiliac--femoral prosthesis, or (c) as management of infected prosthetic grafts. Fourteen Dacron grafts and 13 saphenous veins were used for the bypasses. There were no operative deaths. Twenty-two patients were clinically improved, two required amputation later and one patient was lost to follow-up. Four patients, including three with preexisting graft infection, had wound infections that cleared with drainage and antibiotics. No other major complications occurred in this group of poor-risk patients. Femorofemoral bypass is safe and provides the surgeon with a useful method of revascularizing the limbs of selected patients.

Aged↗
PubMed1976

Infected aortic bifurcation grafts: experience with fourteen patients.

The experience with 14 patients with infected aortic bifurcation grafts has been reviewed. Factors which appeared to predispose to infection in 11 patients included "re-do" operations, concomitant cholecystectomy or gastrostomy, and ruptured abdominal aneurysm. A mixture of gastrointestinal organisms was responsible for the infections. The pathogenesis, presentation, and treatment varied according to whether the proximal or distal anastomosis was involved or not. Aortoduodenal communications were present in five patients; they presented with gastrointestinal bleeding or septicemia. One patient survived as a result of early, aggressive surgical therapy. Infection presented at the distal anastomosis in nine patients, either as groin abscess or false aneurysm. Conservative therapy failed in the majority of patients but apparently was successful in three of five patients in whom infection did not involve the intra-abdominal portion of the graft. When infection does involve the intra-abdominal portion of the graft, then the graft must be excised also. Revascularization often can be accomplished with extra-anatomic bypasses of prosthesis or autogenous material, depending on the characteristics of the individual patient. Regardless of the mode of presentation or the site of infection, the early institution of judicious surgical management offers the best chance of success in these patients, and temporization usually leads to failure.

Aortic Aneurysm↗