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Biomedical subjects

T Aberg

Publications and source records attributed to T Aberg.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

The effect of pneumatic antishock garments in the treatment of lethal combined hepatic and caval injuries in rats.

Thirty rats were subjected to a standardized lethal hepatic and retrohepatic caval vein injury. The animals were divided into six groups. In addition to controls (I), the animals were treated with a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) (II), massive intravenous (III), or intra-aortic (IV), saline infusion, or PASG in combination with either massive intravenous (V) or intra-aortic (VI) saline infusion. Intravenous and intra-aortic infusion of saline led to a median survival time of 13 min and 37 min, respectively, not statistically different from the control group. Nine of ten animals who had the combined treatment with PASG and infusion of saline developed a fulminant pulmonary edema. The treatment with PASG alone, however, prolonged survival time significantly from a median survival time of 10 min in the control group, to greater than 120 min in the treated group.

Animals↗

Role of surgery in infective endocarditis.

One-hundred-and-thirteen patients with endocarditis and valvular insufficiency were studied retrospectively with special regard to indications for operation and the optimum time for cardiac valve surgery. Thirty patients (group I) had acute, 63 (group II) subacute and 20 (group III) prosthetic valve endocarditis. Group I: Eleven patients underwent surgery in the acute stage, 8 while bacteremic; 5 of the latter died perioperatively. Of the 19 patients treated medically, 16 died. Group II: All patients underwent operation in a bacteria-free state. The mortality was 5%. Group III: Eight patients had early (less than 60 days postoperatively) and 12 late endocarditis. Total mortality was 40% (71% early and 25% late mortality). Ten patients underwent reoperation, with a mortality of 20%, compared with 60% in the medically treated group. The results support the indication for early operation in acute endocarditis with progressive cardiac failure and renal failure and prosthetic valve endocarditis, even during bacteremia.

Acute Disease↗

Cuff pressures and Doppler gradients after coarctectomy. A long-term follow-up.

Fourty-six adult patients operated on as children with resection and end to end anastomosis because of coarctation of the aorta were studied. The age at operation was 7 to 13 years (mean age 10 years) and at follow-up 18 to 28 years (mean age 21 years). Arm and thigh cuff pressure was measured at rest, during and immediately after submaximal exercise. The systolic gradients were also estimated using continuous wave Doppler. Systolic blood pressure at rest was 150 mmHg or more in 12 patients (26%). The cuff pressure at rest correlated well with arm-leg gradients at rest and at work, and also with the Doppler gradients at rest. Doppler gradients slightly underestimated invasively measured gradients. The results imply that postoperative hypertension was explained by residual mechanical obstruction.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients with valvular heart disease.

To evaluate the usefulness of preoperatie coronary angiography in patients undergoing preoperative investigation because of valvular heart disease, we performed coronary angiography in a consecutive series of 329 patients. The prevalence of significant coronary artery disease was 32%. Asymptomatic coronary artery disease was present in 13%. Angina pectoris proved to be a poor predictor of coronary artery disease in aortic valve disease. In mitral valve disease, however, the specificity was high. A cost-benefit calculation was carried out in order to assess what advantage routine coronary angiography might have. According to this, coronary angiography should be performed in all patients suffering from valvular heart disease with angina pectoris, whereas it can be omitted in younger patients without angina. A cut-off point of 60 years seems appropriate for aortic valve disease and 65 years for mitral valve disease.

Adult↗

Flucloxacillin-induced cholestatic liver damage.

Two female patients (75 and 68 yr old) developed jaundice 4 and 7 weeks respectively after treatment with flucloxacillin. Liver biopsies showed intrahepatic cholestasis. After cessation of the drug, the liver tests became normal.

Aged↗

Surgery of renal cancer with extensive caval invasion. Suggestion for a new approach.

Radical surgery for renal cancer with invasion of the inferior vena cava can improve the patient's quality of life and, in some cases, offer longer survival or even cure. With a carefully planned surgical approach it is possible to remove renal tumours with thrombotic extension to the most proximal part of the inferior vena cava without necessity for cardiopulmonary bypass and without undue risk to the patient. In the operative procedure, good access and visual control of the proximal vena cava and all the contributing veins seem to be crucially important.

Aged↗

Benign tumours of the oesophagus and oesophageal cysts.

Eighteen patients with benign tumour or cyst of the oesophagus were operated on over a 26-year period at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery of Uppsala University Hospital. The series comprised 11 cysts and 7 benign tumours, including one case of the rare myoblastoma. The incidence of operations was 0.33 per million population. There was no operative mortality and no subsequent morbidity from the oesophageal disease. The follow-up is complete. A review of the literature confirms that these lesions are rare and that they usually are submucosal. Many are asymptomatic (in our series only about 1/3 caused symptoms). The most common symptoms are those resulting from compression of the oesophagus, which can lead to obstruction and pulmonary complications. It may therefore be warrantable to operate on benign oesophageal tumours and cysts even in the absence of symptoms, thereby also confirming the diagnosis.

Adolescent↗

Hartmann procedure.

The Hartmann procedure has been performed in 42 patients during a ten-year period. It is considered a good alternative in the emergency operative treatment for perforated diverticulas, perforated sigmoid cancer, anastomotic disrupture after an anterior resection or in ileus caused by stricturating colorectal cancer. It is also useful as an alternative in elective operations when there are unexpected difficulties in establishing colorectal continuity, as well as a palliative operation for advanced colorectal cancer. The overall operative mortality in the present series was 14%. Colorectal continuity could be reestablished in 13 of the 18 patients where it was attempted.

Adult↗

Adverse effects on the brain in cardiac operations as assessed by biochemical, psychometric, and radiologic methods.

In order to describe subclinical brain injury in conjunction with cardiac operations 94 patients were prospectively studied with three brain injury assessment methods: CSF analyses 24 hours after bypass, psychometry, and computed tomography of the brain. Adenylate kinase (AK), a marker of ischemic brain cell injury, was measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in serum. In 13% of the patients, a considerable increase in CSF-AK was seen, in 46% there was a moderate increase, and in 41% no or trivial increase. Psychometry measured as change between preoperative scores in a test battery (SS3) revealed a moderate decrease in intellectual function after operation. There was a significant inverse correlation between CSF-AK and SS3 (r = -0.46, p less than 0.001, r2 = 0.21, n = 71). Computed tomography (CT) of the brain was performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 54 patients. Two of these had cerebral infarctions visible on the CT, despite an essentially normal postoperative state. There was no correlation between indices of brain injury and patient diagnosis and length of perfusion. It is concluded that subclinical brain injury is often seen after cardiac operations. Most often the injury appears trivial and/or reversible, but in a minority of cases there is evidence that the brain injury is irreversible. Factor analysis favors the view that the microembolism theory might no longer be a valid concept in modern cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Instead, circumstances in the operative field seem more likely to be important causative factors. This interpretation calls for new principles in the search for an improved cerebral protection during cardiac operations.

Adenylate Kinase↗

Intellectual function late after open-heart operation.

Cerebral emboli are not uncommon complications after valve replacements. We investigated the hypothesis that there are emboli that are clinically unnoticeable but that may affect the intellectual function of the brain. One hundred sixty-five patients were studied with a battery of psychometric tests before and after operation, two months postoperatively, and 2 to 8 years after operation. Ten patients sustained late cerebral infarction or hemorrhage. Their late intellectual function was low, indicating an impairment in brain performance. The remaining 155 patients had had no cerebral complications postoperatively. Eighty-three had had valve replacement (Björk-Shiley valves); 51, aortocoronary bypass operations; and 21, closure of an atrial septal defect (all adult patients). Late intellectual function was significantly lower in the patients with a valve prosthesis than in the other two groups. However, this difference could be traced back to the operation. Thus, we have not been able to confirm our hypothesis that late intellectual function in patients with a heart valve prosthesis deteriorates as a result of clinically silent emboli. On the contrary, patients who have undergone aortocoronary bypass operation sustain more deterioration in late intellectual function than the other groups. Late intellectual function in this study population clearly was influenced by events during the operation. Because cerebral injury can be shown almost regularly after open-heart operation, this investigation provides an incentive for further efforts to improve the quality of open-heart surgery with the aim of keeping brain function as intact as possible.

Cardiac Surgical Procedures↗

Tobacco consumption and asbestos exposure in patients with lung cancer: a three year prospective study.

During the three years 1979-81, all patients with bronchial carcinoma of World Health Organisation types I to IV were given a questionnaire to determine occupation, smoking habits, and exposure to asbestos. Chest x rays were screened for the presence of pleural plaques. Of the men, 96.2% were current or ex-smokers, as were 71% of the women. In those who had never smoked 70% had an adenocarcinoma. In smokers the risk of getting other types was greater, but the risk of getting an adenocarcinoma was also considerably increased compared with the normal population. Of the men, 35.8% were occupationally exposed to asbestos and 15.6% were carriers of radiological plaques, a frequency five to six times greater than expected. Practically all asbestos exposed patients with lung tumours were smokers or ex-smokers and their total tobacco consumption was as high as that of non-exposed patients. The average latency from first exposure to asbestos to diagnosis of the lung tumour was 37 years. Even if strict regulations are warranted for the use of asbestos, this cannot prevent future asbestos cancers resulting from exposure that has already occurred. Elimination of smoking seems the only way to reduce such tumours.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Catheter pericardiocentesis in the postoperative period.

Catheter pericardiocentesis was performed under fluoroscopy in 52 cases. Differentiated localized injection of contrast medium was of value for inserting the needle to a suitable site in the pericardial sac. The catheter tip could be positioned in different fluid filled compartments.

Adult↗