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Biomedical subjects

S Witchitz

Publications and source records attributed to S Witchitz.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

[Anatomic and bacteriological study of surgically extracted valves in patients with bacterial endocarditis].

We studied 64 cases of bacterial endocarditis which required heart surgery for hemodynamic defects and/or failure of the antibiotic therapy. We performed a bacteriologic and histologic investigation of the removed valves. The organisms were evidenced through culture and specific stainings. According to the different organisms we evaluated the best duration of antibiotic therapy to achieved sterilization, and suggest a helpful medical and surgical treatment for the bacterial endocarditis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1976

Opening snap and isovolumic relaxation period in relation to mitral valve flow in patients with mitral stenosis. Significance of A2--OS interval.

In 15 patients with pure or predominant mitral stenosis and in a control group of 11 patients without mitral stenosis the blood flow velocity through the mitral valve orifice was recorded by means of a directional Doppler ultrasound velocity catheter introduced transeptally and positioned in the orifice of the mitral valve. A simultaneous surface phonocardiogram was obtained. The timing of the mitral opening snap in relation to the blood velocity record of the flow through the valve supported the hypothesis that the opening snap is due to a sudden tensing of the valve leaflets by the chordae tendineae. Determination of the exact time of mitral valve opening, made possible by the blood velocity record, led to the division of the classical A2-0S interval (aortic valve closure to opening snap) into two components representing respectively the diastolic isovolumic relaxation period and the time of excursion of the mitral valve cusps. The durations of the isovolumic relaxation period were compared with those in the control patients and were found to correlate with the severity of the mitral stenosis, whereas those of the excursion time of the mitral cusps were influenced by the presence or absence of mitral valve calcification.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis. A report of nine cases.

9 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis are reported and the results of this study are compared with the data of the literature. The source of infection was known in 8 patients: 7 were nosocomial infections (cardiac catheterization in 5 cases, cardiac surgery in 2 cases). The diagnosis was made in 8 patients with left-sided endocarditis. In 1 patient tricuspid endocarditis was diagnosed on postmortem examination. Carbenicillin associated with an aminoglycoside antibiotic appeared to be the most effective treatment when prescribed for several weeks. 6 of 9 patients died of uncontrolled septicemia, 3 of whom underwent surgery which was twice performed because of poor hemodynamic status. In the other 3 patients drug administration was effective at first. However, a relapse occurred in these three cases compelling another effective antibiotic therapy. Surgery was peformed in these three patients. Valve cultures were negative in two cases and positive in 1. These 3 patients survived. They are still alive after a follow-up period of 2 or 3 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

[Treatment of obstructive cardiomyopathy using myotomy in a 67-year-old patient. Pharmacological and angiographical studies].

The case is reported of a 67 year old man with obstructive cardiomyopathy treated by an extended myotomy. Serial phonomechanographic tracings and the pre- and post-operative angiograms show the steady progress of the disease towards a major disturbance of left ventricular compliance which became resistant to propranolol, and was partially reversed by myotomy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Normal pattern and physiological significance of mitral valve flow velocity recorded using transseptal directional Doppler ultrasound catheterization.

In 10 cardiac patients in whom an organic lesion of the mitral valve was exluded by standard investigation procedures during which a diagnostic transseptal catheterization for pressure measurements in the left heart was performed, the authors placed a directional Doppler ultrasonic catheter tip velocimeter at the site of the mitral ring and recorded the mitral flow velocity traces. The pattern of these normal curves is presented and a physiological interpretation proposed. The relation between the mitral flow velocity and low volume curves is discussed in the light of present experimental data on mitral valve flow velocity profiles and variations in size of the mitral orifice. The authors concluded that the flow velocity curves obtained by the Doppler technique constitute a valid physiological reference system for the study of the mitral valve flow velocity tracings that can be recorded in the various forms of mitral valve disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Diagnosis and evaluation of mitral valve disease using transseptal Doppler ultrasound catheterization.

In 33 patients with confirmed mitral valve disease, the mitral valve flow velocity traces were recorded by means of a directional Doppler ultrasonic velocimeter using the transseptal route, and correlated with the clinical and haemodynamic data. In all cases, characteristic anomalies of the mitral flow velocity patterns were noted and could be related to the type of lesion, stenosis, regurgitation, or a combination of these. Furthermore, specific patterns of the flow velocity traces were shown to correlate satisfactorily with the degree of severity of the disease. The authors propose a pathophysiological interpretation of the anomalies of the velocity patterns, based on turbulence for stenosis and backward flow wave for regurgitation. They conclude that the transseptal directional Doppler catheterization provides a new reliable method for establishing the diagnosis and grading the severity of mitral valve disease using pattern recognition, and, moreover, offers a new approach to the understanding of mitral haemodynamic disturbances on a beat-to-beat basis.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

A double-blind study in hypertensive patients of an original new compound, indapamide.

In a double-bind crossover study in 18 patients with essential hypertension, the hypotensive activity of 5 mg. indapamide daily was compared with 40 mg. frusemide daily over a period of 4 months after an initial 15 days on placebo. The overall clinical assessment showed satisfactory blood pressure control in 72% of patients receiving indapamide compared with 57% on frusemide. The weight of patients on active therapy dropped significantly with both products, but to a greater extent with indapamide. Indapamide was well-tolerated by all 18 patients; 3 patients on frusemide developed side-effects. The results of blood chemistry investigations are discussed. Variations in potassium levels during indapamide therapy were modest and did not warrant the use of potassium supplements.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Acute bacterial endocarditis].

Acute endocarditides, defined by the intensity of the infectious syndrome, increase rapidly in incidence, both in absolute number and in relation with classical subacute endocarditides. 60 cases were studied out of a lot of 130 cases of bacterial endocarditides. They are characterized by the nature of the portals of entry, particularly in hospital, the nature of the causal germs (staphylococci and gram-negative germs essentially), their habitually primary character, the importance of embolic manifestations. Cardiac failure through valvular mutilation is common, but surgical valve replacement is not always possible in view of the visceral or infectious context. Their overall prognosis is a very bad one: lethality 67 percent as against 15 percent for subacute endocarditides. An important part of prevention lies in a better hospital hygiene.

Acute Disease↗