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Biomedical subjects

S Levitsky

Publications and source records attributed to S Levitsky.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Electrophysiologic demonstration of bilateral anomalous pathways in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (type B preexcitation).

Pre- and postoperative electrophysiologic studies are described that were suggestive of two (right- and left-sided) anomalous atrioventricular (A-V) connections in a patient with type B Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and intractable arrhythmias, who underwent epicardial mapping and successful surgical ablation of the right-sided anomalous pathway. The presence of the right-sided anomalous pathway capable of both antegrade and retrograde conduction was suggested by the following observations: (1) Type B preexcitation on the surface electro-cardiogram; (2) maximal preexcitation and minimal stimulus-delta with low lateral right atrial pacing; (3) epicardial mapping of the atria and ventricles; and (4) disappearance of ventricular preexcitation after surgical ablation of the right-sided anomalous pathway. The presence of an additional left-sided anomalous pathway capable of only retrograde conduction (concealed on the surface electrocardiogram) was sugg-sted by the following observations: (1) Left to right retrograde atrial activation sequence during reentrant tachycardia and ventricular pacing at rapid rates and with coupled ventricular pacing postoperatively; (2) spontaneous conversion of wide ORS tachycardia utilizing the anomalous pathway for antegrade conduction to narrow QRS tachycardia with significant slowing in rate; and (3) smooth antegrade A-V nodal conduction curves with echo zone postoperatively. The demonstration of bilateral anomalous pathway in patients with preexcitation has important electrophysiologic and surgical implications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Interruption of patent ductus arteriosus in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome.

In infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) hypoxemia inhibits closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), resulting in increased pulmonary blood flow with subsequent increased hypoxemia. In an attempt to interrupt this cycle 42 consecutive premature infants with RDS and PDA, weighing between 550 and 2,000 gm (average, 1,383 gm) and with an average gestational age of 31 weeks, were arbitrarily treated either medically (13 patients) or by interruption of the PDA (20 patients). Eleven patients who were initially treated medically could not be weaned from the respirator and later underwent operation. There were no operative or anesthetic deaths; late survival was 65% (20 patients). The last 31 patients were randomly divided into operative and nonoperative groups. Preliminary results revealed no significant differences in late survival between the two groups. Since the operative risk is minimal, further investigative efforts are indicated to settle this issue.

Digoxin↗
PubMed1975

Biochemical changes of ischemia.

Normothermic ischemic arrest by aortic cross-clamping, a widely used clinical technique, is associated with metabolic changes in the myocardium that are incompletely understood. The effects of aortic cross-clamping on glycolytic pathways as well as associated morphological changes are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the conservation of high-energy phosphate moieties during the period of cross-clamping as well as during reperfusion. A marked reduction in total high-energy phosphates (62%) and glycogen (63%) and an increase in lactate production (243%) denote a shift to anaerobic metabolism during the period of arrest. Despite reperfusion, total high-energy nucleotides remained depressed. The data suggest that persistent abnormal myocardial carbohydrate metabolism and low levels of high-energy nucleotides prevent recovery of contractility following normothermic ischemic arrest and reperfusion.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Protection of the myocardium with high-energy solutions.

An approach to intraoperative protection of the myocardium is described that attempts to increase glucose utilization by infusion of high-energy solutions during aortic cross-clamping. Infusion of hypertonic glucose or glucose plus insulin prior to aortic cross-clamping has enhanced contractility and increased high-energy phosphate moieties in animals with induced ischemia. Recent pilot experiments in our laboratory suggest that infusions of creatine may result in increased production of creatine phosphate, which in turn induces phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate to adenosine triphosphate, possibly enhancing myocardial contractility. The intraoperative clinical benefits of these infusions remain to be proved, however.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1975

Postbypass treatment.

Ischemia induced by cross-clamping the aorta during open-heart operations initiates progressive metabolic derangement. If the duration of ischemia is short, these derangements are easily reversed by restoring the flow of blood containing oxygen and substrate. If ischemia is prolonged, treatment designed to ameliorate ischemic damage may be necessary. Three problems are discussed: (1) loss of adenine nucleotides, particularly adenosine triphosphate, (2) impairment of calcium sequestration, and (3) formation of microemboli in coronary vessels. The rationale for postbypass treatment is presented.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗
PubMed1975

Outbreaks of Serratia marcescens infections in a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit.

An outbreak of infections with pigmented Serratia marcescens involving 3 patients in a cardiothoracic surgical intensive care unit is reported. A respirator is thought to have been the source of pneumonia in 2 patients, and fomite spread from 1 of these is considered responsible for the induction of fatal endocarditis in the third patient. This outbreak demonstrates the rapid dissemination of a bacterial strain within the unit, several methods of dissemination, the wide variation in apparent virulence of the organism, the alterations of antibacterial host defense which made bacterial disease possible and which determined the site of infection, and the difficulties of adequate therapy. The third patient is the seventh reported with serratia infection of a prosthetic heart valve.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

New insights in cardiac trauma.

Recent advances in cardiac surgery associated with newer diagnostic modalities have decreased the mortality from cardiac wounds. With decreasing operative mortality, previous nonoperative approaches have been abandoned while judicious total repair of valvular, septal, and coronary artery injuries at the initial operative procedure seems resonable and justified.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Bedside evaluation of heart tracking in the postoperative patient.

A device to track and record the motion of the left ventricular border of the heart has been designed and is undergoing validation in human beings. The system involves the use of track-while-scan-techniques applied to video signals from a fluoroscope image intensifier. Results of studies obtained from the animal laboratory as well as from human beings indicate good correlation with standardized contractility indexes as well as with systolic time intervals, an alternative noninvasive technique.

Adult↗