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Biomedical subjects

R J Moreno-Cabral

Publications and source records attributed to R J Moreno-Cabral.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

The treatment of low cardiac output syndrome following cardiopulmonary bypass using delayed sternal closure.

The purpose of this study, was to ascertain whether delayed sternal closure (DSC) could eliminate the need for an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) or ventricular assist device (VAD) in patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) following coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). To investigate this, the records of 3014 patients undergoing CABG were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty (2.0%) patients had a relative or absolute contraindication to IABP or VAD use and required DSC for LCOS. DSC resolved 45 (75%) of these patients' LCOS, requiring an average of 1.6 +/- 0.7 days and producing a mean change in cardiac index of +1.0 +/- 0.3 L/min/m2. Fifteen (25%) of these patients did not resolve their LCOS after DSC and required either an IABP (11) or a VAD (4). Significant postoperative morbidity occurred in 22 (36.7%) patients but were not related to DSC. Only one (1.7%) sternal wound infection occurred from a total of 147 patient-days of DSC. Operative mortality was 47 per cent (28) but was not unexpected based on the number of urgent/emergent (48; 80%) and reoperative (40; 67%) procedures but does not appear to be related to the technique of DSC. DSC appears to be a simple and safe method for treating LCOS following CABG. It is effective in resolving the majority of patients' LCOS without the addition of any significant morbidity. DSC also spares these patients the added morbidity, mortality, and cost associated with circulatory assist devices.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Comparisons of methods of myocardial hypothermia for cardiac transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial hypothermia of less than 10 degrees C is an essential component of preservation of donor hearts before implantation. Here we report temperature changes and comparison of methods for maintenance of myocardial hypothermia during implantation. METHODS: Twenty patients were prospectively randomized into two equal groups. In one cohort myocardial hypothermia was maintained by the "Stanford method" of continuous lavage of the pericardium and left atrium with refrigerated saline solution. In the other a cooling jacket was used without saline lavage. Temperatures at multiple sites were measured at 30-second intervals from initiation of cardiac suturing until aortic cross-clamp removal. Comparisons were made between groups at each temperature site. RESULTS: The cooling jacket group temperatures were significantly lower at the left ventricular epicardium and endocardium than those of the Stanford method group. CONCLUSIONS: During cardiac implantation maintenance of myocardial hypothermia with a cooling jacket resulted in significantly deeper and more consistent hypothermia of the left ventricle than pericardial and left atrial lavage with refrigerated saline solution. Blood loss from aspirated saline lavage and perfusate dilution by the saline solution were eliminated.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cost reduction by combined carotid endarterectomy and coronary artery bypass grafting.

A significant cost reduction is likely if patients who require coronary artery bypass grafting with significant carotid stenosis have simultaneous carotid endarterectomy and bypass grafting, provided risk is not increased. To investigate this issue, we retrospectively identified cases from February 1977 to May 1994 with first-time isolated carotid endarterectomy, coronary bypass, or combined procedures. In the isolated carotid endarterectomy population, median age was 69 years and 58% (85/146) were male, as compared with 68 years and 68% (68/100) male in the combined group; median age of the coronary bypass cohort was 65 years and 76% (381/500) male. A significantly higher percentage of patients in the coronary bypass versus combined group were in New York Heart Association functional class IV. In the combined group there was a significantly higher incidence of older age, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. There was no difference among the three groups with respect to hospital mortality (0%, 3.4%, and 4.0%, respectively) and permanent stroke (0.7%, 1.2%, and 0%, respectively). Hospital costs were $4,896, $10,959 and $11,089, respectively, with a savings of $4,766 (30%), and Medicare hospital reimbursement was $8,575, $23,071, and $23,071, respectively, with a savings of $10,077 (25.3%). Thus, in appropriate patients, a combined procedure is cost effective, eliminating a second surgical procedure and the cost of the postoperative stay (3.7 +/- 2.4 days) associated with isolated carotid endarterectomy. Risk of permanent stroke or death is not increased.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Prevention of distal limb ischemia during cardiopulmonary support via femoral cannulation.

The indications for prolonged cardiopulmonary support or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are expanding. A potential serious complication of these techniques is distal limb ischemia. Techniques have been developed to provide the distal limb with blood flow. Unfortunately, specialized skills and materials are required. We describe a simple method of providing distal limb perfusion using ordinary pressure tubing and a standard cordis catheter. This technique is capable of reproducing normal superficial femoral artery blood flow.

Catheterization↗
PubMed1993

Emergency resuscitation using portable extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation is currently the standard treatment for cardiac arrest patients both in and out of the hospital. Accumulated experimental and anecdotal clinical evidence suggests enhanced survival in patients with extreme circulatory decompensation who have been emergently supported with portable cardiopulmonary bypass. Long-term survival is possible even when application is delayed, but early institution of support after cardiac arrest in selected patients offers the best survival advantages. In our hospital this has been achieved by training a team of in-house personnel to emergently prepare, apply, and temporarily manage cardiopulmonary bypass until personnel with greater specialty training arrive. Machinery needed to perform emergency cardiopulmonary bypass is currently available in all hospitals with open heart surgery programs. Simple support is often therapeutic but can also serve as a bridge to definitive diagnostic and other therapeutic procedures. Commercial units are becoming more biocompatible and easier to use, making both wider application and more prolonged support likely in the future.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation↗
PubMed1992

Prolonged extracorporeal circulation for acute myocarditis.

Total circulatory support for acute reversible myocardial failure is rarely used in clinical situations outside the postoperative period following cardiac surgery. We treated an 8-year-old girl who suffered acute viral myocarditis and sustained cardiac arrest requiring cardiopulmonary bypass for resuscitation. This was accomplished with the use of the portable cardiopulmonary support system (CPS), which consists of a centrifugal pump and a membrane oxygenator. This patient was placed on CPS in Hawaii and transported after 3 days to San Diego (4200 km) for further mechanical support and possible heart transplantation. Adequate cardiac function returned and CPS was stopped after 6 days. She is alive and well, attending school two and a half years after the event. Prolonged use of CPS for acute myocardial failure outside the operating room, including long distance transportation, is effective and easily accomplished with currently and widely available equipment, and should be used in acute, reversible catastrophic heart disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Anomalous origin of the left anterior descending artery from the pulmonary artery.

An extremely rare congenital abnormality is reported in which the anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) originates from the pulmonary trunk. The clinical presentation, angiographic findings, and surgical treatment are discussed. This is the only reported case where surgical treatment included ligation of the LAD with internal mammary artery bypass grafting.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Mechanical support: assist or nemesis?

Our 6-year experience with ventricular assist devices was reviewed to determine variables associated with improved survival. Forty-three patients (mean age 62 +/- 14 years) were supported after balloon pumping and pressors proved inadequate. Twenty-eight patients could not be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, 12 patients deteriorated in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery, and three had a bridged to transplantation. Overall, 47% (20/43) of patients could not be weaned from the ventricular assist devices, and 26% (11/43) were weaned but died before discharge, resulting in a hospital mortality rate of 72% (31/43). The remaining 28% (12/43) of patients were discharged and have survived 9 to 62 months. Early institution of ventricular assist devices (p less than 0.01), use of biventricular support (p less than 0.01), use of ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation (p less than 0.05), and increased operator experience (p less than 0.05) were associated with improved survival. When patient and disease-related variables were analyzed, only age less than 60 years (p less than 0.01) and unexpectedly preoperative myocardial infarction associated with shock (p less than 0.05) were related to improved survival. Death was caused by insufficient ventricular recovery, stroke, multiple organ system failure, sepsis, or a combination of these complications. During long-term follow-up, two patients have died of congestive heart failure, and one is significantly impaired from a stroke. Two other patients are functional class III and seven patients are class I. Although hospital mortality was high (72%), the use of ventricular assist device support resulted in overall "long-term" survival of a significant percentage (28%) of patients, 47% (8/17), in the past 12 months, all of whom would have died without it. Therefore we currently recommend a trial of ventricular assist devices support for most patients who fail to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass, deteriorate in the perioperative period, and as a bridge to transplantation. Long-term survival is determined by the complications from ventricular assist devices support and functional status of the remaining myocardium.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Surgical resection of giant metastatic leiomyosarcoma of the heart.

A 44-year-old woman underwent a hysterectomy for leiomyosarcoma in 1969. Cardiac invasion was detected in 1981 but the tumor was considered inoperable. In 1985, 16 years after hysterectomy, malignant tamponade developed as a result of a massive tumor arising from the left ventricle. Emergency decompression by median sternotomy and tube thoracostomy was followed a week later by tumor resection and simultaneous excision of a lung metastasis with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. The cardiac tumor weighed 719 gm. A residual pelvic tumor found on a computed tomographic scan was subsequently removed. She is alive and well 22 months after the operation. Aggressive surgical resection of cardiac and other metastases of this slowly growing tumor can be lifesaving.

Adult↗