Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Carerj

Publications and source records attributed to S Carerj.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Does aortic insufficiency influence Doppler-derived calculation of the valvular area in patients with mitral stenosis?].

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of mitral valve area (MVA) in patients with mitral stenosis represents the main purpose of any diagnostic method, provided that MVA is a key parameter to indicate the need for valve surgery. The aim of this study was to assess whether the presence of aortic regurgitation associated with mitral stenosis affects the MVA measurement by left atrial pressure half time (PHT). METHODS: Eighty-nine patients with mitral valve stenosis (68 females and 21 males, mean age 53.6 +/- 12.1 years), were studied. Fourty-eight patients (36 females and 12 males) had a concomitant aortic regurgitation (AR group), whereas 41 patients (32 females and 9 males) did not reflect any aortic valve involvement (no-AR group). Aortic regurgitation was graded on the basis of color flow analysis. The majority of patients had a slight to moderate regurgitation. MVA determination was carried out using both Hatle formula (220/PHT) and planimetric measurement in parasternal short axis view. RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated a good correlation between the 2 MVA measurement in both groups (IA group: r = 0.9, p < 0.0001, SSE = 0.21 cm2, y = 0.91x + 0.05; no-IA group r = 0.92, p < 0.0001, SSE = 0.22 cm2, y = 0.92x + 0.04). The concomitant aortic valve disease did not affect in any way the MVA measurement by means of the PHT method. CONCLUSIONS: The Doppler derived method appears to be reliable for estimating the mitral valve area in patients with mitral stenosis even in the presence of aortic regurgitation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Role of transesophageal echography in the study of embolism of cardiac origin].

In the total population, cerebrovascular ischemic diseases account for 0.2-0.3% cases per year, and in the 20-40% of them it is possible to recognize a cardioembolic mechanism. The cardiological examination in patients with stroke is, therefore, aimed at detecting cardiac sources of emboli (left atrial, valvular, and ventricular thrombosis, atherosclerotic plaques of ascending aorta), and at identifying the cardiovascular disease directly or indirectly associated with ischemic stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is particularly suitable for this purpose, due to the proximity of the transducer to the posterior cardiac structures and to its better resolution. Many recent reports have demonstrated that TEE not only improves the recognition of known cardioembolic diseases (intracardiac thrombi, mitral stenosis, valvular prosthesis thrombosis, endocardial infectious diseases), but is also the most reliable non invasive technique suitable to detect atherosclerotic lesions of the ascending aorta. Furthermore, TEE allowed to recognize new anatomic and functional abnormalities, such as left atrial spontaneous echo contrast, atrial septal aneurysm, patent foramen ovale, frequently associated with stroke. Noteworthy, TEE is the only technique suitable for functional and anatomic evaluation of the left atrial appendage. The Authors studied by TEE the functional properties of left atrial appendage in patients with severe mitral stenosis with or without atrial fibrillation, as compared to patients with left atrial thrombosis. Results showed that fractional shortening of left appendage was greatly reduced, at the same extent in the 3 groups, demonstrating that abnormalities in left atrial appendage emptying could be a risk factor for atrial thrombosis. In order to compare TEE with the transthoracic 2D-echo for the detection of cardioembolic sources, the Authors studied 63 patients with ischemic stroke. TEE revealed a possible cardioembolic source in 70% of younger patients and in 50% of patients older than 45 years. These abnormalities were detected by TEE respectively in 10% and in 1.8% of cases. These data are in agreement with many other reports in literature, and suggest the usefulness of TEE in the evaluation of patients with ischemic stroke and no evidence of severe atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, in contrast to the poor role of TEE. Another important field is the prevention of stroke in patients at high risk of cardioembolic events. The role of TEE before and immediately after cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation has been recently studied by several papers. Cardioversion was proved at low risk of stroke when TEE did not show left atrial or left appendage thrombosis. Therefore, the transesophageal approach identifies patients needing prolonged anticoagulation (roughly 20%), avoiding an undue, potentially dangerous therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Pseudo pre-excitation with concertina effect in idioventricular tachycardia.

The concertina effect is a phenomenon where the QRS complexes reflect alternating phases of gradual widening and narrowing. This is most commonly due to ventricular pre-excitation, and the changes in QRS morphology are due to variability of the ventricular zone that undergoes pre-excitation. This presentation reflects a case where the concertina effect is due to an idioventricular tachycardia at a rate nearly identical to the sinus rate. Variable degrees of ventricular fusion therefore occur, and the concertina effect ensues, in relation to slight variations of the sinus cycle.

Electrocardiography↗
PubMed1991

[Evaluation of the kinetics of MB creatine kinase in patients undergoing systemic thrombolytic therapy].

This study was aimed to evaluate if the time-course of creatinkinase MB in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is influenced by therapy and which index, derived from the enzymatic curve, is the most reliable marker of successful coronary artery recanalization. We studied the enzymatic curves in 38 patients with transmural myocardial infarction, 19 treated with streptokinase (SK) and 19 with tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). Blood samples were obtained every 2 hours for the first 12 hours and every 6 hours until the level of serum CK returned to baseline. Three indexes were calculated: peak serum enzyme level, time to peak enzyme level and maximal enzyme rise velocity. Time to peak did not differ significantly between SK and rtPA groups. Peak levels were significantly higher (414 +/- 40 vs 249 +/- 33; p = 0.004) in rtPA groups, as well as maximal enzyme rise velocity (1.7 +/- 0.4 vs 0.8 +/- 0.1; p = 0.02). However, infarct size evaluated by the total release of CK-MB in 28 patients was greater in rtPA group (10949 +/- 1097 vs 6346 +/- 869; p = 0.002). These findings suggest that differences in peak level and in maximal velocity of rise observed between SK and rtPA are due to differences in infarct size and not to a different recanalization rate. Thus, enzymatic estimate of infarct size significantly correlates to peak enzyme (r = 0.894, p less than 0.001), and to maximal rise velocity (r = 0.518, p = 0.007) but not to time to peak (r = 0.208, NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Creatine Kinase↗
PubMed1989

Trifascicular block with asynchronous intraventricular recovery and "supernormal" AV conduction.

The authors present a case of trifascicular block: complete right bundle branch block, tachycardia-dependent left anterior hemiblock, and bradycardia-dependent left posterior hemiblock. There is, in addition, a complicating independent AV junctional rhythm that is in most instances not affected by the conducted sinus impulses. Occasionally, however, this focus is discharged by very early sinus impulses that are unexpectedly conducted to the ventricles (a manifestation of "supernormal" conduction). A complex electrocardiographic pattern results from the interplay of the aforementioned mechanisms.

Atrioventricular Node↗
PubMed1989

[Correlation between the sites of mitral annular calcification and conduction disturbances: echocardiographic evaluation].

A clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic (M-Mode, 2D) study was performed to explain the causal relationship between mitral annular calcification and cardiac conduction disturbances. Forty-seven patients, 28 women and 19 men (mean age 69) with mitral annular calcification were studied. In 18 patients A-V and/or intraventricular conduction disturbances were present. In this study we have found: a greater incidence of posterior than anterior mitral annular calcification; the anterior mitral annular calcification is often associated with aortic valve calcification and ultimately the common association between anterior mitral annular calcification and conduction disturbances.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Treatment of recent atrial fibrillation with intravenous propafenone].

Intravenous propafenone (1 mg/Kg in 3 min) has been administered to 14 patients with recent atrial fibrillation. The sinus rhythm was restored in 7 patients within 30 min after the injection. The left atrial size, evaluated by M-mode echocardiography, was no different in the group of responders, with respect to the non-responders. No adverse effect has been observed. One single patient manifested a long asystolic pause (3860 ms), at the restoration of sinus rhythm. Propafenone appears to be useful in the treatment of recent atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed1987

Abnormalities in pituitary thyroid axis function tests in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias.

The study was carried out on 60 consecutive patients (23 males and 37 females) aged between 20 and 83 years (means +/- SD, 40.7 +/- 16) who arrived at our Cardiologic Unit with paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias (PSVA) including junctional paroxysmal tachycardia (n = 32), atrial fibrillation (n = 13), atrial flutter (n = 1), premature beats (n = 13) and with no obvious cardiovascular causes. Serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine were normal in all patients and thyroid scintiscan revealed normal shape and size thyroids without autonomously functioning nodule(s). Thyrotropin (TSH) response to thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) was normal in 44 subjects in whom normal serum free T4 (FT4) and free T3 (FT3) levels were measured. Six patients with normal FT4 and FT3 levels did not respond to TRH. Abnormalities in thyrotropin response to TRH were observed in 10 patients all exhibiting increased FT4 or also FT3 levels. Among these, 5 patients did not respond to TRH, whereas the remaining 5 exhibited a blunted TSH response to TRH. These results suggest that only in a small proportion (5/60) of consecutive patients with PSVA it is possible to recognize a status of "occult thyrotoxicosis" on the basis of the combined evaluation of free thyroid hormones and TSH response to TRH.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

[Ventricular extrasystole of re-entry originating in the myocardium surrounding a parasystolic focus: a mechanism responsible for the irregularity of the interectopic intervals during parasystole].

We have observed a case of ventricular parasystole in which the ectopic beats occurred often in couplets. The analysis of the interectopic intervals suggests that the first beat of the couplet is parasystolic in origin, whereas the second one is due to a re-entry which takes place in the myocardium surrounding the parasystolic focus. Moreover, our observations lead us to speculate that an occasional supraventricular beat could cause an exit block of the parasystolic focus through a concealed re-entry.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

Suppression of demand pacemakers due to spurious signals generated by inactive endocardial electrodes.

We report a case of oversensing observed in a patient with a VVI pacemaker. This phenomenon was provoked by an inactive lead whose tip was in close apposition with the tip of the stimulating electrode. Potentials of large amplitude arose from the contact between these two catheters, causing pacer suppression. These false signals have been revealed both by intracavitary recordings and by standard ECG. In the latter they assumed a P-like shape. Withdrawal of the temporary lead restored normal pacing.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm in patients with migraine: an echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of atrial septal aneurysm in patients with migraine. BACKGROUND: Migraine has long been considered a risk factor for stroke. Atrial septal aneurysm is often observed in young patients with ischemic stroke and is frequently associated with other conditions potentially leading to embolism. METHODS: We performed a transthoracic echocardiogram in 90 consecutive patients (65 women and 25 men; mean age, 35.3 years [standard deviation, 9]) with migraine but free from cerebral and cardiovascular disease and in 53 control subjects (37 women and 16 men; mean age, 34 years [standard deviation, 10]). The diagnosis of atrial septal aneurysm was performed according to Olivares-Reyes criteria. A transesophageal echocardiogram also was performed in 75 patients with migraine (83.3%). RESULTS: The prevalence of isolated atrial septal aneurysm was higher in patients with migraine with aura (28.5%) than in patients with migraine without aura (3.6%) (P <.005) or in control subjects (1.9%) (P <.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest a role of atrial septal aneurysm in the genesis of aura in patients with migraine.

Adult↗