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Biomedical subjects

T L Spray

Publications and source records attributed to T L Spray.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Pediatric lung transplantation. Indications, techniques, and early results.

From July 1990 to April 1993, 36 lung transplantations in 33 patients were performed in our pediatric transplant program (0.25 to 23 years, mean age 10.3 years). Eight children had been continuously supported with a ventilator for 3 days to 4.5 years before transplantation and three were supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Indications for lung transplantation in this pediatric population included the following: cystic fibrosis (n = 13), pulmonary hypertension, and associated congenital heart disease (n = 10), pulmonary atresia, ventricular septal defect and nonconfluent pulmonary arteries (n = 3), pulmonary fibrosis (n = 6), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (n = 1). Three children underwent retransplantation for acute graft failure (n = 2) or chronic rejection (n = 1). Pulmonary fibrosis was related to complications of treatment of acute of myelogenous leukemia with bone marrow transplantation in two children and to bronchiolitis obliterans, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, interstitial pneumonitis, and Langerhans cell histiocytosis in four others. Thirteen children underwent lung transplantation and concomitant cardiac repair. Bilateral lung transplantation, ventricular septal defect closure and pulmonary homograft reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract to the transplanted lungs was performed in three children by means of a new technique that avoids the need for combined heart-lung transplantation. Two patients had ventricular septal defect closure and single lung transplant for Eisenmenger's syndrome, two had ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus and transplantation, three additional children underwent atrial septal defect closure and lung transplantation, and two underwent lung transplantation for congenital pulmonary vein stenosis. Eight early deaths and three late deaths occurred (actuarial 1-year survival 62%). Lung transplantation in children has been associated with acceptable early results, although modification of the adult implantation technique has been necessary. Lung transplantation and repair of complex congenital heart defects is possible; heart-lung transplantation may only be required for patients with severe left heart dysfunction and associated pulmonary vascular disease. Bronchiolitis obliterans remains a major concern for long-term graft function in pediatric lung transplant recipients.

Adolescent↗

Early results after pediatric cardiac transplantation with triple immunosuppression therapy.

Pediatric heart transplant recipients were previously reported to have higher early mortality and morbidity than do adult patients treated with triple immunosuppression therapy (steroids, azathioprine and cyclosporine). Nineteen patients (11 infants and 8 older children) underwent orthotopic transplantation using triple immunosuppression therapy. Surveillance for cellular rejection and coronary arteriopathy was performed with endomyocardial biopsy and selective coronary angiography in all patients, with continuous monitoring for hypertension and serious infection. Seventeen of 19 patients (89%; 10 infants and 7 older children) are current survivors, with a median follow-up of 29 months (range 17 to 94). There were 5 and 7 episodes of rejection in the first 12 months after transplantation in the infant and older groups, respectively, for actuarial freedom-from-rejection rates of 65% at 3 months and 54% at 12 months. Severe coronary arteriopathy was detected in 1 infant 11 months after transplantation. In the first 12 months after transplantation, there were 3 hospitalizations for infection, and 2 patients needed treatment for hypertension in the infant group, compared with 1 hospitalization for infection, and 4 patients on antihypertensives in the older group. An increased prevalence of noninfectious complications in the infant group led to significantly longer postoperative stays than in the older group (mean 27.3 vs 19.4 days; p < 0.05). The results indicate that cardiac transplantation using triple immunosuppression therapy in infants, children and adolescents is associated with a high survival rate, and low rates of rejection and serious infection.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Repair of coarctation of the aorta in infancy: comparison of surgical and balloon angioplasty.

Surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta in infancy has recently been challenged by some investigators who suggest that balloon angioplasty results in a lower mortality rate and similar risk of restenosis. Over a 44-month period, 37 consecutive infants with a mean age of 33 days (median, 15 days; range, 1 to 200 days) and mean and median weight of 3.7 kg (range, 2.4 to 5.4 kg) underwent surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta with either an end-to-end anastomosis (24 patients) or subclavian flap angioplasty (13 patients). There were no operative deaths (95% confidence interval, 0% to 10%). Four patients died late (> 30 days) after surgery (11%). Four patients (11%) (95% confidence interval, 3% to 25%) had residual gradients greater than 20 mm Hg. A review of the recent literature on treatment of native coarctation in infants with surgical repair (18 reports, 1189 patients) and balloon angioplasty (8 reports, 57 patients) reveals a similar early mortality rate but a much higher rate of recoarctation in infants who were treated with balloon dilation (57%) as compared with those who underwent surgical repair (14%). Because of the incidence of restenosis, balloon dilation as compared with surgical repair does not yet offer an improved outcome for native coarctation of the aorta in infancy.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Technique of transplantation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome with left superior vena cava.

The presence of a left superior vena cava in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome complicates the technical performance of orthotopic cardiac transplantation. In this report we describe a modification of the recipient cardiectomy to maintain patency of the left superior vena cava, leaving the recipient coronary sinus as a conduit for it into the right atrium and avoiding complex venous reconstructions.

Echocardiography↗

Damus-Kaye-Stansel with cavopulmonary connection for single ventricle and subaortic obstruction.

Infants with single ventricle and transposition of the great arteries with or without aortic arch obstruction have a poor prognosis due in large part to the development of systemic outflow obstruction, a frequent consequence of pulmonary artery banding. Thus, the initial palliation and long-term treatment options are critical in terms of surgical choices and timing. We report our experience with 9 patients managed by neonatal pulmonary artery banding and early debanding, a Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure, and either a modified Glenn shunt or a modified Fontan procedure. Some evidence of subaortic stenosis developed in every patient as manifested by a resting gradient across the systemic outflow tract (21.4 +/- 4.2 mm Hg), a small ventricular septal defect relative to the body surface area (1.57 +/- 0.39 cm2/m2), and a small ventricular septal defect relative to the aortic root cross-sectional area (0.70 +/- 0.04 cm2/m2). There were 1 early death and 1 late death after the Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure. With the exception of 1 patient, the in-hospital course of the survivors was relatively uncomplicated. Two patients with levotransposition of the great arteries have required pacemakers. None of the survivors have residual systemic outflow obstruction. There is trivial or mild pulmonic insufficiency in 5 patients, which is not progressing. One patient had mild to moderate pulmonic insufficiency but died late presumably of an arrhythmia. We conclude that neonatal pulmonary artery banding coupled with planned early debanding, a Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure, and cavopulmonary anastomosis is a relatively low-risk course for patients with this complex physiology.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Restrictive atrial septal communication as a determinant of outcome of cardiac transplantation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Infant cardiac transplantation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) can be performed with a high success rate, but it remains unclear whether variations in anatomy or degree of illness before transplantation can affect ultimate survival. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed the initial echocardiograms and pretransplant courses of 21 infants whose families chose transplantation as a primary therapy option for factors influencing survival. Sixteen of 21 were transplanted (mean wait, 18 days; range, 3 to 97 days) with 15 current (6- to 36-month) survivors, leading to a survival rate from presentation of 71% (70% confidence limit [CL], 61% to 81%) and an operative survival of 94% (70% CL, 81% to 99%). Seven of 20 listed for transplant (35%) had a severely restrictive interatrial communication, defined as a color flow jet width of 3 mm or less across the interatrial septum. Three of these 7 infants died at 4 (2) and 7 (1) weeks from congestive heart failure and progressive hypoxemia before transplantation. One died 2 months after transplant with an autopsy demonstrating pulmonary venous hypertensive disease, leading to a significantly higher relative risk for death (relative risk = 7.4, P = .01) for those infants with a severely restrictive interatrial communication versus those infants without severe restriction. The size and function of the right ventricle, left atrium, aorta, and tricuspid valve, as well as the magnitude of support on presentation, were not related to ultimate survival. CONCLUSIONS: A severely restrictive interatrial communication is a frequent component of HLHS. When primary cardiac transplantation is the chosen therapy for HLHS, it is a significant negative risk factor for death primarily before transplantation.

Echocardiography↗

Extracorporeal life support in cyanotic congenital heart disease before cardiovascular operation.

From July 1988 to March 1991, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was used in 8 infants (newborn to 16 months old) with unoperated cyanotic congenital heart disease and cardiopulmonary collapse, associated with hypercyanotic spells (4 infants), pulmonary hypertensive crises (3) and sepsis (1). Indications for ECMO support were arterial saturations less than or equal to 60% accompanied by hypotension and metabolic acidosis unresponsive to mechanical ventilation with 100% oxygen, paralysis and sedation, and pharmacologic support with inotropes or vasodilators, or both. Venoarterial bypass by carotid/jugular cannulation with flow rates of 100 to 840 ml/kg/min (mean 460) stabilized all patients. Duration of ECMO support ranged from 15 to 840 hours and was associated with transient seizures (1 patient) and renal failure (1). Seven patients underwent palliative (3 patients) or corrective (4) surgical procedures while on ECMO or within 48 hours of decannulation, including 1 patient bridged to double-lung transplantation with a long (840 hours) duration of ECMO. There was 1 operative and 2 late (greater than 1 month after decannulation) deaths, for an overall survival rate of 62%. These 5 survivors all have normal growth and development, and patent neck vessels at the site of cannulation. These early results indicate that ECMO can be effective mechanical support in cardiovascular crises untreatable with maximal conventional medical therapy and can be used as a bridge to successful surgical palliation or repair.

Cohort Studies↗

Primary surgical closure of large ventricular septal defects in small infants.

Herein, a policy of primary surgical closure of large ventricular septal defects in infants is reviewed. Forty-eight infants met criteria for inclusion in the study, and were divided into two groups based on weight: group 1 infants weighted 4 kg or less (n = 23), and group 2 infants weighed more than 4 kg (n = 25). Both groups had similar variation in ventricular septal defect location (paramembranous versus muscular) and number (single versus multiple), as well as incidence of major associated extracardiac diseases. No early deaths occurred in group 1, compared with 1 infant (4%) in group 2. Major complications occurred similarly in both groups (9% versus 12%). There were two late deaths in group 1 (9%) and none in group 2. No surviving patients have required a second ventricular septal defect operation, and the majority no longer receive anticongestive therapies. These results indicate that primary surgical closure of large ventricular septal defects, even multiple muscular defects, can be performed in very small infants with no difference in mortality or serious complication rates compared with larger infants. Protracted medical efforts to achieve larger size before primary repair and palliative pulmonary artery banding are not necessary.

Body Weight↗

Intraaortic balloon counterpulsation: patterns of usage and outcome in cardiac surgery patients.

Between January 1, 1986, and May 6, 1991, 7,884 cardiac surgical procedures requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were performed at our institution, including 672 (9.8% of adult procedures) performed in 669 patients that were associated with preoperative (n = 240), intraoperative (n = 353), or postoperative (n = 79) use of an intraaortic balloon pump. The mean age of recipients was 65.3 years (range, 16 to 89 years). Intraaortic balloon pump usage increased during the study period from 6.4% of patients (83/1,298) in 1986 to 12.7% of patients (169/1,333) in 1990. The relative distribution between preoperative (mean, 35.7%), intraoperative (52.5%), and postoperative (11.8%) insertion remained nearly constant during the study period. The overall operative (30-day) mortality for patients with preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative insertion of the intraaortic balloon pump was 19.6%, 32.3%, and 40.5%, respectively (X2 = 16.4; p less than 0.001). Although use of the intraaortic balloon pump in the intraoperative and postoperative settings is accompanied by a favorable outcome in most patients, the high associated mortality suggests the need for earlier use of the intraaortic balloon pump or other supportive measures such as the ventricular assist device.

Angina, Unstable↗

Pediatric lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension and congenital heart disease.

Five children underwent lung transplantation for end-stage pulmonary hypertension and respiratory insufficiency associated with congenital heart disease. One (17 mo) had pulmonary hypertension with a patent ductus arteriosus and required two periods of preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation before successful bilateral sequential lung transplantation. One (21 mo) required bilateral lung transplantation for pulmonary hypertension and bronchopulmonary dysplasia associated with iatrogenic injury to the left pulmonary artery. This child also had patent ductus arteriosus ligation and preoperative catheter closure of an atrial septal defect. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required for early postoperative pulmonary support. One child underwent right single-lung transplantation and closure of an atrial septal defect for pulmonary hypertension. Two patients had single-lung transplantation for Eisenmenger's syndrome: 1 with muscular inlet ventricular septal defect closure, atrial septal defect closure, and right single-lung transplantation; 1 with ventricular septal defect closure, patent ductus arteriosus ligation, right ventricular outflow tract patch repair, and single-lung transplantation. All patients survived operation, with one late death (lymphoproliferative disease). The 4 survivors are all ambulatory without oxygen and have evidence of normal pulmonary artery pressure 9 to 12 months after transplantation.

Adolescent↗

Transesophageal echocardiography predicts successful withdrawal of ventricular assist devices.

Transesophageal echocardiography has been found to be an effective technique for the real-time assessment of myocardial and valvular function in postoperative patients. To determine the value of transesophageal echocardiography in patients with mechanical assist devices, we performed daily, bedside transesophageal echocardiography on 16 patients with right (n = 3), left (n = 1), or biventricular assist devices (n = 12). We obtained four-chamber and short-axis views in all patients. Valvular function and the presence of left-to-right shunts were evaluated by means of color flow Doppler imaging. During the echocardiographic study ventricular assist device flow was diminished to less than 1.5 L/min, and inotropic agents (dobutamine or epinephrine) were given to assess ventricular reserve. Changes in day-to-day ventricular function were assessed in comparisons made by two observers (one unaware of the study sequence) using a semiquantitative method for wall motion analysis. The left ventricular wall motion scores in the patients successfully weaned from left or biventricular assist devices (n = 5) improved (14.2 +/- 1.6 versus 8.2 +/- 1.5, p < 0.0001). The scores did not improve in patients who remained dependent on the devices (n = 8). Two patients with only right ventricular assist devices were successfully weaned after documentation of improvement of right ventricular function by transesophageal echocardiography. Transesophageal echocardiography documented a clot compressing the heart in three patients; intracavitary thrombi were seen in two other patients. Marked hemodynamic improvement occurred after surgical decompression. In conclusion, transesophageal echocardiography is a safe, effective method for the assessment of ventricular function of patients on ventricular assist device support. In addition, it allows one to assess valvular function and the presence or absence of impaired ventricular filling.

Adult↗

Complete repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in infancy.

From 1983 to 1990, 20 infants underwent complete repair of isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Twelve were male; ages ranged from 1 day to 240 days (mean 32 days). The abnormal anatomic connection was supracardiac in nine, cardiac in four, mixed in five, and infradiaphragmatic in two. In seven patients the pulmonary venous drainage was obstructed. Corrective operations were performed 2.4 days after admission; after medical stabilization, seven patients underwent emergency operations, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in one. All operations were performed with the use of circulatory arrest (mean 33 minutes) and cardiopulmonary bypass (mean 54 minutes). There was one hospital death, which occurred in a premature infant (1.5 kg) who had supracardiac drainage. No preoperative risk factors correlated with a poor surgical outcome. Pulmonary hypertensive episodes were expectantly managed after the operation with 100% oxygen, sedation, and hyperventilation. Postoperative arrhythmias occurred predominantly in patients with intracardiac drainage. All survivors (mean follow-up of 42 months) are in sinus rhythm, receiving no medications, and are growing and developing normally. Surgical correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in infancy can be performed at low risk with good results after aggressive preoperative stabilization and postoperative management.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass↗

Coronary artery disease in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients receiving triple-drug immunosuppression.

Although triple-drug immunosuppression (cyclosporine, azathioprine, and prednisone) has reduced the incidence of acute rejection after pediatric cardiac transplantation, its effect on the development of coronary artery disease, which may be the major determinant of long-term survival in these patients, is not well defined. We reviewed 42 coronary angiograms obtained annually in 17 cardiac transplant recipients, aged 6 months to 18 years (mean, 12.4 years) at the time of transplantation, who had been maintained on triple-drug immunosuppression and had survived at least 1 year after transplantation. Each angiogram was reviewed for luminal irregularities or discrete stenoses, for the loss of third-order branching, and for the presence of myocardial bridging or calcification of vessels. Patient files were reviewed for donor and recipient age, sex, and ABO blood group, for postoperative episodes of rejection or cytomegalovirus infection, for hypertension, and for cholesterol and triglyceride values. No recipient in our series has died or undergone retransplantation because of coronary artery disease. Six of 17 (35%) patients have developed angiographically identifiable coronary artery abnormalities: four by the first year and two additional recipients by the second and third years, respectively, after transplantation. Development of coronary artery abnormalities approached a significant correlation when related to posttransplantation cytomegalovirus infection (p = 0.11) and older recipient age (p = 0.056) but not to any other factors studied, including episodes of rejection (p = 1.0). Angiographically identifiable coronary artery abnormalities can occur in pediatric recipients within the first year after cardiac transplantation in spite of a low incidence of acute rejection. Although the abnormalities may be mild initially, they can progress and require intervention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Child↗

Surveillance for rejection by echocardiographically guided endomyocardial biopsy in the infant heart transplant recipient.

Echocardiographically guided endomyocardial biopsy via percutaneous right internal jugular vein puncture has been performed 98 times in six patients 5-16 years of age at our institutions. The use of this approach was extended for rejection surveillance in seven infants transplanted at 2 weeks to 15 months of age (median, 2 months; mode, 2 weeks). A total of 35 consecutive biopsies were performed under heavy sedation in these infants (lowest weight, 3.0 kg) with the use of a 5F semirigid bioptome through a 5.0-cm 5F sheath. There was no case of entrance failure. A median of four biopsies was performed on each child (range, one to 14). Four to seven tissue pieces per biopsy were obtained using an apical four-chamber view for bioptome guidance. Ten instances of clinically suspected rejection were not confirmed by biopsy, and two cases of unsuspected rejection were found. The only complication was one instance of new mild tricuspid regurgitation in this group compared with one instance of increased tricuspid regurgitation after biopsy in the older child group. These preliminary results suggest that echocardiographically guided endomyocardial biopsy from the right internal jugular approach is a reliable and safe means for rejection surveillance in the infant and young child.

Biopsy↗

Tracheoplasty for congenital long-segment intrathoracic tracheal stenosis.

Congenital long-segment intrathoracic tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a rare life-threatening obstruction in infancy and childhood. From July 1983 to March 1988 six infants aged 14 days to 14 months with CTS were identified. Symptoms ranged from recurrent stridor and wheezing to severe respiratory compromise and hypercarbia. Routine chest x-rays were not diagnostic. Definitive diagnosis was made by bronchoscopy, which showed complete tracheal rings in all patients with severely compromised tracheobronchial lumens. In three patients, pericardium was successfully used for anterior tracheoplasty with one early death due to fulminant sepsis in an infant with undiagnosed sickle cell disease. The other two died late, at 3 and 9 months from problems unrelated to the repair. In three patients a rib graft was used for repair; in one, tracheoplasty was required after earlier repair of tetralogy of Fallot. All are late survivors with no postoperative symptoms. After recognition of CTS, prompt surgery is warranted to avoid the late complications of tracheostomy for long-term ventilatory support. Rigid repair with rib cartilage is preferable to use of pericardium. Proper rib harvesting with intact perichondrium, intraoperative bronchoscopy, oxygenation by cardiopulmonary bypass, and meticulous graft alignment are necessary for successful postoperative outcome.

Bronchoscopy↗

Noninvasive diagnosis of right-sided extracardiac conduit obstruction by combined magnetic resonance imaging and continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography.

Right-sided extracardiac conduits are frequently complicated by obstruction over time. We compared the utility of two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of postoperative right-sided obstruction with cardiac catheterization and angiography in 10 patients with xenograft or homograft conduits. Correlation (r = 0.95) between continuous-wave Doppler estimates and catheter pullback pressure gradients across the conduits was excellent. Echocardiography could only visualize five of 10 conduits in their entirety. Magnetic resonance imaging visualized all conduits and showed statistically significant (kappa = 0.58) agreement with angiography in the localization and estimation of severity of a variety of right-sided obstructions in these patients. However, flow voids created by the metallic ring around xenograft valves led to a false negative diagnosis of valvular stenosis in four patients when magnetic resonance imaging was used alone. Doppler studies correctly indicated obstruction in these patients. The combination of magnetic resonance imaging studies and continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography can be useful to noninvasively evaluate right-sided obstruction in postoperative patients with right-sided extracardiac conduits.

Adolescent↗