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Biomedical subjects

R Limet

Publications and source records attributed to R Limet.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources

Brachiocephalic arterial reconstruction.

From 1980 to 1990, 18 patients underwent trans-sternal repair for occlusive disease of the brachiocephalic artery. The mean age was 57 years (43-72). Most of the patients were women (n = 10). All but two patients had one or more symptoms related to the stenosis of the brachiocephalic trunk: right-sided upper limb ischemia (n = 7), transient ischemic attacks (n = 8), vertebrobasilar insufficiency (n = 6), left sided minor stroke (n = 1). Only two patients were asymptomatic before operation. Angiography revealed a tight stenosis (n = 14) or an occlusion (n = 3); in one patient it concerned an ulcerated non-stenotic plaque of the brachiocephalic artery. Eleven patients had coexistent involvement of other supraaortic vessels. Angiographically, clinically and intraoperatively, there was evidence of Takayasu arteritis in three female patients. All patients had direct repair by trans-sternal approach. Six patients with short lesions had thromboendarterectomy with patch angioplasty of the innominate artery. In eleven cases, aorto-brachiocephalic bypass grafting was performed. In one patient, aortic calcification precluded proximal anastomosis, and a carotid-to-carotid bypass was done. In five patients, simultaneous revascularization of subclavian (n = 3), left common carotid (n = 2) or internal carotid artery (n = 2) completed the procedure. In one patient, concomitant coronary revascularization was done. There was no operative mortality. Postoperative morbidity was limited to pulmonary infection (n = 2), transient neurologic deficit (n = 1) and renal insufficiency (n = 1). All patients had relief of symptoms. Duplex echo scan confirmed patency of all reconstructions at a mean follow-up of 46 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

[The diabetic foot].

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying a diabetic foot disease are complex and multifactorial, including neuropathy, ischemia, infection and abnormal foot biomechanics. All these factors are often intricated and source of delayed wound healing. Insight in the pathophysiology of the diabetic foot provides a comprehensive basis for a protocol of primary and secondary preventive care. Since non-enzymatic glycosilation of proteins and of connective tissue underlies structural changes in vessels, nerves and osteo-articular structures, a rigid control of blood glucose levels is of paramount importance. Early recognition of the etiology of foot lesions and prompt management of foot ulcers are essential for successful outcome. Aggressive treatment of infections, clinical assessment and correction of vascular occlusive disease (diabetic macroangiopathy), adequate wound care and appropriate off-loading (pressure relief) of the ulcer are essential steps in the treatment protocol. It is not surprising that optimal management of the diabetic foot requires a multidisciplinary approach in a Diabetic Foot Clinic, coordinating care-provisions by a team of diabetologist, infectiologist, vascular surgeon, interventional radiologist, plastic surgeon, podiatrist and specialized nurse. Applying evidence-based multidisciplinary treatment results in a 50% reduction of major lower-limb amputation in this high risk group.

Diabetic Foot↗

[Clinical case of the month. Twiddler's syndrome: report of a case].

The Twiddler's syndrome is characterized by the migration of pacemaker's leads due to rotation of the pulse generator. In our case, ventricular leads coiled in the upper side of the right atrium with stimulation of pectoralis major muscle during left decubitus lateralis position.

Aged↗

[Sapphire: precious stone or ersatz?].

The SAPPHIRE trial compared the results of carotid endarteriectomy to those of carotid artery stenting with an emboli-protection device in patients with carotid artery stenosis and coexisting conditions that potentially increased the risk posed by endarteriectomy. The trial concluded that stenting was not inferior to endarteriectomy. This publication was selected by the AHA among the "Top Ten of Heart Disease and Stroke Research" for 2004. Yet, from the start, it raised a considerable controversy which was already exposed in the Editorial which appeared in the same issue of the NEJM. The present paper analyses and summarizes the various potential bias which raised suspicion regarding the SAPPHIRE data. It also underlines the fact that the results obtained in the SAPPHIRE surgical series are considerably inferior to those generally cited in the literature, or those obtained locally.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Axillounifemoral and axillobifemoral bypasses. Retrospective study of 85 cases.

From 1983 to 1990, 65 axillobifemoral and 20 axillofemoral bypasses have been performed in 85 patients (77 men and 8 women), with a mean age of 69 +/- 9 years. Indications for surgery were: severe aortoiliac occlusive disease (87%), sepsis of previous aortoiliac prosthesis, abdominal aorta aneurysm. Anatomic bypass was precluded for general (81%) or local (19%) conditions. In the last group, 9 patients have had previous laparotomy. Four patients presented with aortoenteric fistulas. Eighteen patients were operated on in emergency. The operative mortality was 12%, with 50% cardiac related deaths. Early primary patency was 98%. Early secondary patency was 100%. The mean follow-up is 28 +/- 15 months. The 3 years survival is 77%. The cumulative patency rates at 1 and 3 years are 89% and 76% respectively. Although axillobifemoral bypasses achieve poor long-term results when compared with aortoiliac bypasses, they can be considered in high risk patients. In this group of patients, the cumulative patency rate and the survival curves tend to be parallel.

Aged↗

Coronary artery reoperations.

From June 1976 to June 1989, 138 previously revascularized coronary patients were reoperated upon. This represents 3.28% of all aortocoronary bypass procedures performed during the same period in our institution. Characteristics of this group, risk factors, coronarographic data, perioperative morbidity and mortality are analyzed and compared to the data of the general population undergoing bypass surgery. The mean age of individuals requiring reoperation was 59 years. The mean interval between the two operations reached 73 months (5 to 180 months). Angiographic lesions were more extensive with three-vessel disease in 65% of the reoperated patients. The mean ejection fraction was 55%. A mean of 2.1 bypass grafts per patient were inserted with 60% of cases having an internal mammary artery graft. Perioperative infarction occurred in 8.0% of the reoperations and an intraaortic balloon counterpulsation was necessary in 4.3% at the end of the procedure. Operative mortality was 5%. Symptomatic improvement was obtained in 85% of the cases. In recent years, cardiac transplantation has been performed for 11 previously bypassed patients with severely impaired ventricular function. There were no postoperative deaths. Cardiac transplantation can be considered as a more valuable alternative to repeat coronary artery bypass grafting in such cases.

Angina, Unstable↗

Truncal vagotomy and pyloroplasty combined with valvular replacement in patients with ulcer disease.

In 1988, 5 patients (3 men and 2 women) with ulcer disease (mean age 56 +/- 8 years) underwent valvular replacement for aortic (No. = 4) or mitral disease (No. = 1). All patients had had gastroduodenal ulcers. Preoperative gastroscopy demonstrated active ulcers (No. = 4) and a healed pyloric ulcer with pyloric stenosis (No. = 1). Despite the presence of ulcers, a non-biologic prosthesis was preferred in each patient because of their young age (No. = 3), chronic atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulant therapy (No. = 1), and refusal of the eventuality of subsequent reoperation (No. = 1). In each patient, a truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty was performed simultaneously with the valvular procedures by the same incision. The postoperative courses were uneventful. With a mean follow-up of 15 +/- 3 months, no gastrointestinal bleeding was observed during anticoagulant therapy. With anticoagulant drugs, bleeding may occur with a frequency of 4% per patient treatment-year, half of which are gastrointestinal in origin. Nevertheless, in selected patients with gastroduodenal ulcers, performing a vagotomy-pyloroplasty simultaneously with valvular replacement allows implantation of a non-biologic prosthesis, with greater durability than bioprosthesis.

Anticoagulants↗

Surgical management of left atrial myxoma.

Although rare, left atrial myxoma is an entity from anatomopathological and clinical aspects. Seven cases of left atrial myxoma operated on the last ten years were reviewed. We also report a rare presentation of right atrial myxoma, where the tumor was responsible of a dramatic hemodynamic shock due to right ventricular inflow obstruction. Six patients were female, with a mean age of 53 years. All but one consulted for exertional dyspnea of recent onset. Two patients with left atrial myxoma and the patient with right atrial myxoma had experienced embolism. Five patients had systemic symptoms. Echocardiography was the most performant diagnostic procedure. All but the patient with right atrial myxoma were operated by the left atrial access. The mitral valve was replaced in two patients. The histological aspect of this benign tumor is illustrated but the lack of frank border between the tumor and the myocardium is emphasized. We conclude that surgical management is primordial. We give anatomopathological rationale for resection of implantation pedicle. The operative mortality was nul in this series of 8 patients; major improvement of cardiac status was constant. No recurrence has occurred during the follow-up period.

Adolescent↗

Cardiac transplantation in patients older than 55 years.

From 1985 to 1990, 27 patients older than 55 years (extremes 55-65 years; 21 men and 6 women) received a cardiac transplant. The cause of cardiopathy was ischemic in 70%. Postoperative immunosuppressive therapy consisted of Cyclosporin A, steroids, azathioprine and antilymphocytic serum. Rejection episodes were monitored by endomyocardial biopsies and treated by pulses of steroids or monoclonal antibodies (OKT3). The operative mortality is 7.4% (n = 2). The one and two year survivals are 71% and 62% respectively. The incidence of infection and/or rejection were 0.71 +/- 0.4 and 1.4 +/- 0.7 episodes/patient year. Age beyond 55 years does not contraindicate heart transplantation. This change in recipient selection policy should lead to parallel changes in donor selection criteria.

Age Factors↗

Carotid-subclavian bypass with or without carotid endarterectomy.

From 1981 to 1987, 29 patients (14 women and 15 men, with a mean age of 56 +/- 15 years) underwent a carotid-subclavian bypass for occlusive lesion of the subclavian artery (or of the left common carotid artery). The symptomatology included vertebrobasilar insufficiency, arm ischemic symptoms, or combination of both symptoms. Twelve patients (42%) have had a previous transient ischemic attack, or a cerebrovascular accident. There were 22 stenoses or occlusions of the left subclavian artery, and 6 of the right subclavian artery. On arteriography, 9 patients had significant associated lesions on the internal carotid artery, either homolateral (n = 7), or heterolateral, or bilateral. Carotid to subclavian bypasses were performed either with autogenous saphenous vein (n = 15), or with prosthetic graft (n = 14). In 5 cases, a carotid endarterectomy was done simultaneously to the bypass. Operative mortality was 3.4% (1/29). Early patency (less than 1 month) was 97% and late patency 89%, with a mean follow-up of 40 +/- 24 months. The patency rates were not significantly different whether a prosthesis or a vein was used for the bypass. All patients were improved and complete relief of symptoms was achieved in 92%. No patient experienced symptoms of carotid steal after the bypass. We concluded that carotid-subclavian bypass is a safe and efficient method for revascularization of the subclavian artery of of the left common carotid artery in selected cases.

Adult↗

Valvular and coronary surgery in renal transplant patients.

The Authors report aortic valvular replacement (AVR) and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) successfully performed in two renal transplant patients. The postoperative blood urea and creatinine levels were comparable to the preoperative values. The first patient underwent isolated AVR. The second patient had an initial AVR combined with CABG followed two years later by a further AVR for prosthetic dysfunction. For many reasons, coronary artery (CAD) and valvular diseases are not uncommon in renal transplant patients. Cardiac surgery is feasible without impairment of the renal function provided some precautions are taken, ie good mean perfusion pressure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), adequate volume replacement, and selected use of mannitol and dopamine.

Aortic Valve↗

[Simultaneous coronary and carotid surgery: apropos of 73 cases].

A series of 73 simultaneous carotid and coronary revascularizations (Group I) is presented (January 1980-December 1988). Age, sex, risk factors, severity of angina, coronarography, neurological symptoms, angiographic carotid lesions and operative outcome of these 73 patients are compared with the aspects of 3544 coronary bypass patients (Group II) and 1001 carotid endarterectomized patients (Group III) during the same period. The angina in Group I is more severe, with 22% belonging to NYHA class IV and 26% having a stenosis of the left main coronary artery, vs 14% and 13% in Group II. Seventy percent of the carotid lesions in Group I are asymptomatic vs 33% in Group III. Group I patients had more problems in the perioperative period, with 16.4% needing prolonged high-doses analeptics and 5.4% intraaortic counterpulsation balloon. Operative mortality is higher (7%) in Group I compared with Group II (2.3%) and Group III (1.7%). These results permit to define a population of polyvascular patients with concomitant coronary and carotid disease, characterized by a more diffuse atherosclerosis and a higher operative risk. Operative morbidity and mortality after combined myocardial and cerebral revascularization remains nevertheless inferior to the cumulated surgical risk of the sequential procedures (74 patients with coexistant coronary and carotid lesions operated in two sessions before 1986).

Carotid Artery Diseases↗

Combined one stage cardiac and pulmonary surgery by median sternotomy.

From 1985 to 1989, 6 patients underwent a pulmonary surgical procedure simultaneously with a cardiac operation. All patients were male with a mean age of 60 +/- 8 years. The cardiac procedures included: 1 aortic and 1 mitral valve replacement, 3 coronary artery bypass grafts and 1 closure of an atrial septal defect. Four patients had primary pulmonary nodules: 2 bronchogenic carcinomas and 2 benign hamartomas. They presented with cardiac symptoms, and lung nodules were incidentally found on preoperative Chest X-Rays. The 2 last patients had pulmonary metastases of colonic neoplasms previously resected, respectively 3 and 6 years before. After completion of the cardiac procedures, during the rewarming of the patient, the pulmonary resection was performed on a deflated lung, via the median sternotomy. Pulmonary procedures included: right upper segmentectomy (n = 1), left pneumonectomy (n = 1), left interior lobectomy (n = 1), right middle lobectomy (n = 1), left upper wedge resection (n = 1), and right upper lobe wedge resection (n = 1). All patients were extubated on day one. One patient died from rythm disturbances on day 13. All other patients are alive with a mean survival of 30 months. The authors conclude that combined surgery is feasible in selected cases. Sternal approach is not a limitation to pulmonary resection.

Aged↗

Renal autotransplantation: a kidney-saving procedure.

The authors report their recent experience with renal autotransplantation (3 cases). In one case it concerned a complex aneurysm of the renal artery involving secondary arterial renal branches, and associated with hydronephrosis (case 1); another patient presented a high ureteral injury unsuccessfully repaired by previous surgery (case 2), and the third patient had diffuse fibrodysplasia of intrahilar arterial branches (case 3). The procedures were technically successful and gave good functional results. They describe the technique of kidney refrigeration, extracorporeal vessel repair and ureteral preservation or reimplantation. Indications and technical advantages of this organ-saving reconstructive approach are discussed.

Adult↗

Non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) at stage 3. A fourteen years retrospective study of 449 patients. Indications of surgery in a multidisciplinary management.

Through a fourteen years retrospective study of all the patients treated at the State University of Liège, we have focused on the survival of 449 patients with, at least, a clinical stage 3 NSCLC disease (NORMS UICC). The whole study was divided in two periods (1972-1978, period 1, and 1979-1985, period 2) because, everything remaining nearly equal as far as the clinical material was concerned, period 2 was characterized by a different therapeutic attitude. Since 1979, the NSCLC stage 3's surgical indications have been widely extended. We have performed surgical resections in patients with NSCLC N2 disease because of positive homolateral mediastinal lymph nodes or with T3 disease. This led the NSCLC stage 3 resection rate to move from 26% in period 1 to 47% in period 2. We report here the effects of such a management on the short and long term survival and the stage 3 NSCLC global prognosis. We noted a modest significant increase in the NSCLC stage 3 global prognosis with a five year survival of 4% and 6% (period 1 and 2 respectively; P = 0.03). The 172 resected patients' outcome did not change (five year survival 11% (P1) and 12% (P2]. Although patients were not randomized, our results suggest that adjuvant therapy should not be added whenever the patient underwent a complete resection. On the other hand, it seems very useful indeed whenever the resection was partial. NSCLC patient at stage 3 who underwent a complete resection achieved a 37% five years survival.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

[Anatomo-clinical correlations of carotid plaques].

Recently, much attention has been focused on pathologic plaque characteristics and their importance in producing cerebrovascular symptoms. There remains much controversy on the significance of plaque ulceration, mural thrombi, and intraplaque hemorrhage in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. We investigated 110 plaques, and the only significant correlation with preoperative symptoms was the presence of fresh mural thrombus, mostly intraluminal, associated with stenosis. Exulceration without fresh thrombus, intraplaque hemorrhage with intact endothelium and recanalized thrombus were also found in a considerable number of asymptomatic patients.

Adult↗

[The treatment of post-infarction interventricular septal rupture].

From 1976 to 1988, 15 patients with septal rupture after acute myocardial infarction were admitted to our department of Cardiovascular Surgery. Fourteen patients were operated on. In 8 cases, surgical correction was carried out in the acute phase (delay: less than 10 days). Operative mortality was 36%. Patch loosening was observed in 4 patients who were operated on in the acute phase. Five patients are still in life with a survival of 5 months to 5 years. This report deals with the risk factors, determinant for survival: localization of the myocardial infarction and the septal rupture, preoperative clinical and hemodynamical status of the patient, persistence of a residual shunt and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Aged↗