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Biomedical subjects

S S Kothari

Publications and source records attributed to S S Kothari.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Systemic-to-pulmonary artery collateral vessels and surgical shunts in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease: perioperative treatment by transcatheter embolization.

OBJECTIVE: Systemic-to-pulmonary collateral vessels can develop in patients with obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract or the pulmonary artery. Occlusion of these vessels is necessary before surgical correction of the primary disease. We report the results of transcatheter coil embolization in the treatment of 56 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four procedures were done in the perioperative period for treatment of 67 aortopulmonary collateral arteries, five modified Blalock-Taussig shunts, and two enlarged veins. RESULTS: In the "aortopulmonary collateral" group, occlusion was complete in 51 patients (76%), subtotal in seven (10%), partial in four (6%), and failed in five (8%). Inadvertent embolization to the aorta occurred in two procedures, but both coils were retrieved nonsurgically. During follow-up of 1-12 months (n = 32; mean, 6.3 months), the coils remained in position, without any migration. Follow-up angiograms in 14 embolized vessels showed no recanalization (mean, 5.3 months; range, 2-12 months). In the "shunt" group, occlusion was complete in four patients and failed in one. Distal embolization to the pulmonary artery occurred in one patient. This coil was retrieved during surgery. During follow-up of 3-6 months, coils remained in position in all patients. In one patient, a follow-up angiogram at 3 months showed no recanalization. In the "venous embolization" group, occlusion was complete in one patient. The coils were in position 5 months later. The procedure was unsuccessful in the other patient. CONCLUSION: We conclude that transcatheter coil embolization is useful in the treatment of abnormal systemic-to-pulmonary vessels and shunts in patients with obstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract or the pulmonary artery. Homemade coils are safe and effective in obliterating antegrade flow.

Adolescent↗

Thrombolytic therapy in infants and children.

Thrombolytic therapy is being increasingly used to treat various cardiac and other disorders in the pediatric population. The use of thrombolytic therapy in thrombosis following cardiac catheterization, aortic thrombosis, right atrial and caval thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, thrombosed prosthetic valves, thrombosed Blalock-Taussig shunts, and other disorders is delineated. Special issues of the newborn are discussed. A wider appreciation of the indications and contemporary experience would help in optimizing the use of thrombolytic therapy in children.

Adolescent↗

Life-threatening arterial haemorrhage: results of treatment by transcatheter embolization using home-made steel coils.

Major arterial haemorrhage can be fatal. Its management by percutaneous embolization using commercially available embolizing agents is well established. We describe the use of home-made steel coils in the treatment of five patients. These coils were designed during the procedure in order to conform to the dimension of the bleeding artery. The group included two patients with life-threatening haemoptysis after surgical correction for tetralogy of Fallot; one patient each with exsanguinating haemorrhage from a branch of the left profunda femoral artery following violent trauma; massive haematuria due to an inoperable hypernephroma; and haemoptysis due to post-tubercular bronchiectasis. The bleeding vessel was evaluated by selective angiography in each patient. After assessing its length and diameter, steel coils of desired dimensions were made by utilizing a conventional 0.032-in wide guidewire and these were released into the bleeding artery. Occlusion of the bleeding vessel was obtained in all patients, without complication. Fabrication of coils of desired length and diameter can be done within a few minutes during the procedure. These coils provide an effective method of treating life-threatening arterial haemorrhage in selected cases.

Adult↗

Ring or disc enhancing lesions in epilepsy in India.

In India a common CT finding in epilepsy is a ring/disc enhancing lesion (RDEL). This lesion is hypodense on plain scan and shows a ring or disc-like enhancement on contrast CT scan. This study reports on 186 cases with such lesions, found in 26.1% of all focal epilepsy. It was commoner in children. Fifty-three per cent of the cases had had fits for less than 3 months, 29.6% had had fits for more than 6 months and 17.6% for more than a year. Focal signs were seen in 20% of cases and focal EEG slowing in 57.1%. The lesion cleared on anticonvulsants alone in 75% of cases. At present this is the preferred method of treatment unless there is coexisting CNS tuberculosis or close family contact with TB or extraneural cysticercosis. Biopsy was done in 16 cases and the two commonest causes were found to be cysticercosis and tuberculosis. A review of 58 biopsies in four centres in India is included. The frequency of this entity is apparently highest in India and even in other countries where cysticercosis is common, the lesion is not reported as frequently.

Adolescent↗

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy using Inoue catheter in juvenile rheumatic mitral stenosis.

Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) using Inoue balloon was performed in 270 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Of these 81 (27%), 48 males and 33 females, had juvenile mitral stenosis (age < 20 years, range 9-20 years mean 14 +/- 5). All patients were symptomatic (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III in 61 patients and class IV in 20 patients). Following PTMC, the mitral valve area (MVA) increased from 0.8 +/- 0.4 to 2.2 +/- 0.5 cm2 (P < 0.001) and the cardiac index increased from 2.4 +/- 0.8 to 3.0 +/- 0.8 L/min/m2 (P < 0.001). Mean transmitral gradients decreased from 24 +/- 8 to 4 +/- 3 mm Hg (P < 0.001). Three (4%) patients had an increase in mitral regurgitation by 1 grade (grade 2/4); however, none required surgery. Significant left to right atrial shunt (Qp/Qs > 1.3: 1) on oximetry was detected in 8 (10%) patients. Overall results were compared to those with adult subgroup of patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis (n = 189, 100 females and 89 males), who underwent PTMC simultaneously. Their age ranged from 21 to 44 years (mean 32 +/- 11 years). The percentage increase in MVA was higher in juvenile as compared to adult patients (172 +/- 61 vs. 154 +/- 69, respectively, P < 0.01). A larger final MVA was achieved in the juvenile group (2.2 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.3 cm2, P < 0.05). However, the incidence of increase in mitral regurgitation by 1 grade was similar in two groups (6% vs. 4%, P = NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Pulmonary balloon valvotomy for severe valvular pulmonic stenosis with congestive heart failure beyond infancy.

Isolated valvular pulmonic stenosis (PS) in association with tricuspid regurgitation and congestive heart failure (CHF) is rarely encountered after infancy, and there is very little information available regarding the application of pulmonary balloon valvotomy (PBV) for this subset of patients. Since 1985, 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; mean age: 12.4 +/- 7.5 years, range 4-25 years) underwent PBV for severe valvular PS with CHF in our institution. All patients had associated tricuspid regurgitation and cardiomegaly. Before PBV, the mean peak systolic gradient across the right ventricular outflow was 131 +/- 36 mmHg and the mean right atrial pressure was 14.4 +/- 5.4 mmHg. Specific modifications in the PBV technique included the sequential use of progressively larger balloon catheters and the use of an extra stiff guidewire to support the dilatation assembly. One patient underwent PBV via the right internal jugular vein. Problems encountered during PBV included hypotension and bradycardia (2 patients) and respiratory arrest, which was transient in one patient, and prolonged and eventually fatal in one patient. A successful outcome was achieved in 8 patients (4 of these required 2 PBV attempts) with a final residual gradient of 40 mmHg or less, mean 28 +/- 7; range: 21-38 mmHg) and complete resolution of CHF. One patient has had no significant change in gradients and awaits repeat dilatation. Patients with isolated severe valvular PS with TR and CHF represent a relatively high risk group for PBV. A successful outcome is, however, feasible if a carefully planned and cautious approach is used.

Catheterization↗

Cardiac compression with mitral stenosis: a haemodynamic challenge.

The hemodynamics of pericardial restriction (diastolic equilibration of pressures in all the four chambers of heart) and that of mitral stenosis (presence of an end diastolic gradient between the left atrium and the left ventricle) appear mutually exclusive. We describe herein hemodynamic findings in two patients of rheumatic mitral stenosis associated with pericardial constriction in one patient and pericardial effusion with tamponade in the other. Disproportionate elevation of the pulmonary artery diastolic and wedge pressures as compared to the right atrial mean, and left and right ventricular end diastolic pressures was present in both patients. In constrictive pericarditis, the respiratory variation in pressure was reflected in the pulmonary artery wedge pressure but not in the left ventricular end diastolic pressure. The gradient between the pulmonary artery wedge pressure and the left ventricular end diastolic pressure was abolished completely during the inspiratory phase of respiration despite significant mitral stenosis. The difference in the pressure, however, was maintained throughout inspiration and expiration in pericardial effusion with tamponade. In patients with constrictive pericarditis and mitral stenosis, the pulmonary artery wedge pressure does not appear to be a true indicator of the left atrial pressure.

Adult↗

Left ventricular mass and function in children with severe protein energy malnutrition.

We studied 25 children, aged 1-5 years (mean 2.65 +/- 0.8 years) with severe protein energy malnutrition, and compared their left ventricular mass and function to those of 26 healthy, age- and sex-matched normal children. The mean left ventricular mass in the patients was lower than that in the controls (25.75 +/- 8.09 g vs. 32.44 +/- 11.64 g; P less than 0.05, C.I. 2.08 to 11.30). However, left ventricular mass (g)/kg body weight was significantly increased in the patients (4.44 +/- 1.45 vs. 2.42 +/- 0.87; P less than 0.001, C.I. 1.28 to 2.76) suggesting relative cardiac "sparing". The systolic function indices like ejection fraction, percentage fractional shortening, and velocity of circumferential fiber shortening were not significantly different in the patients and in the normal children. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume, stroke volume and cardiac output were reduced in proportion to decrease in body size in the patients, so that the cardiac index was not reduced but slightly increased in the patients. (5.95 +/- 1.9 l/min/m2 in patients, 4.97 +/- 1.4 l/min/m2 in controls; P less than 0.05, C.I. 0.04 to 1.92). There was no significant difference in any of these parameters of left ventricular function or mass in patients with marasmus, as compared to those of patients with marasmic kwashiorkor. Amongst the 25 patients, however, 5 patients (20%) had an ejection fraction of less than 50%. Compared to the other 20 patients, these 5 patients had lower left ventricular mass (18.4 +/- 4.3 g vs. 27.5 +/- 7.8 g, P less than 0.05 C.I. 1.63 to 16.75), lower left ventricular mass (g)/kg body weight and a worse prognosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child, Preschool↗

Mechanism of cyanotic spells in tetralogy of Fallot--the missing link?

The mechanism of cyanotic spells in patients with tetralogy of Fallot is not clear. Increases in infundibular contractility or hyperpnoea have been considered as the key factors, but this explanation appears inadequate. In this review, arguments are presented against these commonly held views. Preliminary evidence is synthesised in favour of another more plausible hypothesis that cyanotic spells may result from mechanoreceptor stimulation from the right ventricle. Increased contractility (due to catecholamines) and decreased right ventricular size (due to various factors) can trigger a reflex resulting in hyperventilation, some peripheral vasodilation without bradycardia, and this may initiate a spell. This mechanism explains most of the precipitating events and many other issues about cyanotic spells more satisfactorily.

Cyanosis↗