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Biomedical subjects

T M Sundt

Publications and source records attributed to T M Sundt.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Correlation of postoperative and two-year follow-up angiography with neurological function in 99 carotid endarterectomies in 86 consecutive patients.

Eighty-six consecutive patients in 1982 underwent 99 endarterectomies and routine postoperative digital subtraction angiography. Ten vessels were closed primarily and 89 with a patch graft. Minor morbidity was 2%, major morbidity 0%, and mortality 1%, but these varied according to the patient's preoperative medical and neurological function and angiographic findings. Postoperative patency for the common carotid artery (CCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) was 100% and for the external carotid artery (ECA) 97%. Seventy-nine vessels were evaluated by a DSA 2 years after surgery. There was one asymptomatic occlusion in follow-up and one symptomatic re-stenosis in a patient with a proven heparin induced hypercoagulability state. The three postoperative ECA occlusions were associated with a lethal postoperative stroke, the only ICA occlusion in follow-up, and a 50% stenosis of the CCA in follow-up at the site of ECA occlusion. Vein patch grafting protected the ICA but not the CCA from recurrent stenosis. The carotid slim sign on preoperative angiograms is judged to indicate a patient at high risk of stroke morbidity.

Aged↗

The risk-benefit ratio of intraoperative shunting during carotid endarterectomy. Relevancy to operative and postoperative results and complications.

The relative risk of shunting versus not shunting during carotid endarterectomy was analyzed retrospectively in 1935 cases undergoing carotid endarterectomy for carotid ulcerative stenosis. The need for shunting was based on a correlation between electroencephalographic changes and a fall in cerebral blood flow below the critical level required for adequate perfusion during the period of carotid occlusion. Patients were divided into four risk categories for surgery, based on medical and neurological risks and angiographic findings. Shunts were required in 30% of the low risk group and 56% of the high risk group. Based on the severity of reductions of cerebral blood flow during the period of carotid occlusion it is concluded that 12% of all patients would have sustained a major deficit, 15% a minor or transient deficit, and 20% a transient deficit without shunting. The risk of shunting 792 cases in this series was 0.5%. Overall minor morbidity, major morbidity, and mortality each approximated 1% in this series.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

Recurrent carotid stenosis. Results and complications of 57 operations.

Among 1992 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy from January 1972 through December 1984, 57 operations were performed in 51 patients for recurrent carotid stenosis. Thirty-four of these cases had undergone initial surgery at this institution while 23 had endarterectomy elsewhere. Fifty-two of the 57 operations were for symptomatic disease while five were for evidence of a progressing lesion. All operative procedures were monitored with intracerebral blood flow measurements and continuous electroencephalograms. Twenty-three patients required intraoperative shunting. There were no complications related to shunt usage or to the period of temporary occlusion in patients who did not require shunting. Recurrent stenosis was related to intimal hyperplasia in 14 cases, recurrent atherosclerosis with interluminal thrombi or degenerated plaque in 27, unexplained soft thrombus in eight, proximal scarring in six, and to aneurysms in two. Intimal hyperplasia was the most common cause for restenosis within 2 years from the date of surgery and developed earlier in patients with a primary closure than in patients closed with a patch graft. The operative complication rate was 10.5% or 4 times the risk of surgery for primary atherosclerosis at this institution. Complications were attributed primarily to intraoperative and postoperative thromboembolic events related to apparent increased thrombogenicity of these vessels. The highest complication rate occurred in the group of patients undergoing surgery for thrombotic material in the internal carotid artery, either primary or with underlying atherosclerosis. There were no neurological complications in the group with myointimal hyperplasia. The authors' experience suggests that on-lay patch grafting without endarterectomy should be used in patients with myointimal hyperplasia. Patients with complicated recurrent atherosclerosis can be treated with endarterectomy and patch grafting, but interposition vein grafts should be considered in cases in which the vessels are extensively damaged by the recurrent plaque or with an unexplained thrombus at the site of previous endarterectomy.

Aneurysm↗

Surgical management of aneurysms of the distal extracranial internal carotid artery.

Results, complications, and operative techniques of the surgical management of 20 aneurysms of the distal extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) in 19 patients are reviewed. The proximity of these aneurysms to the styloid process is not considered as a chance occurrence, and the possibility is raised that these lesions are related to trauma from that structure. False aneurysms from spontaneous dissections are believed to occur only in those dissections that begin distally; they are not found in dissections that begin proximally. Treatment was individualized and dependent upon: 1) the size and location of the aneurysm; 2) symptomatology; and 3) hemodynamic considerations based upon intraoperative cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurements determined from the clearance of xenon-133 injected into the ipsilateral ICA. Methods of treatment included: resection of the the aneurysm with placement of an interposition saphenous vein graft in seven patients; resection of the aneurysm with end-to-end anastomosis of the ICA in five; ICA ligation in three; clipping of the aneurysm in one; and extracranial-to-intracranial bypass in four. One patient sustained a postoperative cerebral ischemic complication from embolization which resulted in a mild permanent impairment in right hand dexterity. There were no other cerebral ischemic complications in the group, largely attributable, it is thought, to the use of intraoperative CBF measurements and continuous electroencephalograms. Four patients had transient dysphagia from traction damage to the pharyngeal and superior laryngeal nerves, and one patient with preoperative difficulty in swallowing required a gastrostomy. Long-term results have been excellent. Use of the operating microscope facilitated the suturing of the distal anastomosis in cases in which the ICA was reconstructed by an interposition vein graft or end-to-end anastomosis.

Adult↗

Carotid body tumors: a subject review and suggested surgical approach.

Carotid body tumors are a rare but potentially difficult surgical entity. Their pathology, physiology, and natural history are reviewed along with surgical results reported in the literature. A surgical approach for removal of these tumors is presented which differs significantly from the recommended techniques in that emphasis is placed on intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow, the the selective use of shunts, a tumor-adventitial plane of dissection, preservation of the carotid artery complex, and mobilization of the parotid gland. Thirteen cases using these techniques are reviewed. The mortality rate and the incidence of cerebrovascular sequelae were both 0%. The major morbidity consisted of injury to the lower cranial nerves in five patients (39%) with tumors larger than 5 cm in length.

Adult↗

Effect of nimodipine on intracellular brain pH, cortical blood flow, and EEG in experimental focal cerebral ischemia.

Intracellular brain pH, cortical blood flow, and electroencephalograms (EEG's) were recorded in severely and moderately ischemic regions in 10 control and 10 nimodipine-treated rabbits prior to and following major branch occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Preocclusion cortical blood flow was 51 ml/100 gm/min and intracellular brain pH was 7.01 in both the control and the treated animals. After MCA occlusion, the severely ischemic regions in the control group showed initial and 4-hour postocclusion flows of 12.7 and 5.2 ml/100 gm/min with a brain pH of 6.64 and 6.08, respectively. In animals given nimodipine after MCA occlusion, blood flow increased from 10.5 to 18.8 ml/100 gm/min, with an associated elevation in intracellular brain pH from 6.57 to 6.91. Comparable findings were observed in areas of moderate ischemia. Improvements in cortical blood flow, intracellular brain pH, and EEG attenuations produced by nimodipine were all statistically significant. Inspection of the cortex revealed reversal of cortical pallor and small-vessel spasm following treatment with nimodipine. It is hypothesized that nimodipine exerts its effects through reversal of ischemia-induced secondary vasoconstriction, and that this drug may be an important adjunctive treatment for patients with focal cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗

Clip-grafts in microvascular decompression of the posterior fossa. Technical note.

A method is described for the protection of the trigeminal root from recurrent vascular irritation or compression after posterior fossa microvascular decompression. A vascular clip-graft, using a Sundt clip of suitable size, is applied to the sensory root of the trigeminal nerve. The technique has proven safe and effective in a series of nine patients followed for up to 28 months.

Aged↗

Saphenous vein bypass grafts for giant aneurysms and intracranial occlusive disease.

The authors report their experience with the use of saphenous vein bypass grafts for treating advanced occlusive disease in the posterior circulation (77 patients, all of whom had failed medical management and showed severe ischemic symptoms), deteriorating patients with giant aneurysms of the posterior circulation (nine patients), progressive ischemia in the anterior circulation (26 patients, none of whom had a normal examination), and giant aneurysms in the anterior circulation (20 patients, all of whom presented with mass effect or subarachnoid hemorrhage). Graft patency in the first 65 cases treated was 74%. However, after significant technical changes of vein-graft preparation and construction of the proximal anastomosis, patency in the following 67 cases was 94%. Excellent or good results (including relief of deficits existing prior to surgery) were achieved in 71% of patients with advanced occlusive disease in the posterior circulation, 44% of those with giant aneurysms of the posterior circulation, 58% of those with ischemia of the anterior circulation, and 80% of those with giant aneurysms of the anterior circulation. Mean graft blood flow at surgery in the series was 100 ml/min for posterior circulation grafts and 110 ml/min for anterior circulation grafts. Experience to date indicates that this is a useful operation, and is particularly applicable to patients who are neurologically unstable from advanced intracranial occlusive disease in the posterior circulation or with giant aneurysms in the anterior circulation. The risk of hyperfusion breakthrough with intracerebral hematoma restricts the technique in patients with progressing ischemic symptoms in the anterior circulation, and the intolerance of patients with fusiform aneurysms in the posterior circulation to the iatrogenic vertebrobasilar occlusion limits the applicability of this approach to otherwise inoperable lesions in that system.

Aged↗

Effect of hyperglycemia on brain pH levels in areas of focal incomplete cerebral ischemia in monkeys.

The adverse effect of a minimal cerebral blood flow (CBF) in models of global ischemia has been noted by many investigators. One factor believed important in this situation is the level of blood glucose, since a continued supply of this metabolite results in increased tissue lactate, decreased brain pH, and increased cell damage. The authors have extended these observations to a model of focal incomplete ischemia. Brain pH was measured in fasted squirrel monkeys in regions of focal incomplete ischemia after transorbital occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). In both control and hyperglycemic animals, CBF was reduced to less than 30% of baseline. At 3 hours after MCA occlusion, brain pH in the control group was 6.66 +/- 0.68 as compared to 6.27 +/- 0.26 in the glucose-treated group. This difference was statistically significant by Student's unpaired t-test (p less than 0.05). Thus, hyperglycemia results in decreased tissue pH in regions of focal incomplete cerebral ischemia in monkeys.

Animals↗

Results, complications, and follow-up of 415 bypass operations for occlusive disease of the carotid system.

Selected patients with acute or continuing ischemic symptoms from occlusions or inaccessible stenotic lesions of the internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery have been considered candidates for a carotid artery-middle cerebral artery bypass procedure at our institution since July 1974. We report herein an 8-year experience through June 1982 with 415 operations in 403 patients in whom a branch of the superficial temporal artery was anastomosed to a branch of the middle cerebral artery. Patients selected for operation usually had had more than one form of ischemic symptom. The primary indication for operation was transient ischemic attacks, and the most common vascular pathologic condition was internal carotid artery occlusion. Preoperatively, 183 patients were taking antiplatelet agents and 157 were taking anticoagulants. Neurologic function 6 months postoperatively was equal to or better than the function preoperatively in 95% of survivors. The bypass pedicle was patent in 99% of patients studied. The mortality and morbidity associated with the surgical procedure varied on the basis of the patient's preoperative neurologic condition but were 1% and 4%, respectively, for the entire group at 30 days postoperatively. Of the 54 deaths during the entire follow-up period, 27 were cardiogenic and 6 were from ischemic stroke. On the basis of patient-months of follow-up, stroke was 8 times more likely to occur within 6 months after operation than thereafter.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

Long-term mortality and stroke morbidity after superficial temporal artery-middle cerebral artery bypass operation.

Among 239 patients with transient ischemic attacks, mild stroke, or transient monocular visual symptoms who had superficial temporal artery-to-middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass, no deaths occurred during the operation or within 30 days thereafter. After the first month, mortality on an actuarial basis was 3% per year. Survival at 5 years was 84% in comparison with an expected survival of 89% for persons of comparable age and sex in a general population. Among the 25 deaths that occurred during follow-up, 2 were due to stroke and 16 to cardiac causes. Of 28 strokes that occurred, 5 occurred during operation or that same day, and 3 others occurred within 30 days postoperatively. Thereafter, strokes occurred at the rate of 2.5% per year on an actuarial basis; a third of the strokes occurred contralateral to the surgical site. No difference was found in survival or in survival free of stroke among patients who had proven carotid artery occlusion (N = 157), carotid siphon stenosis (N = 53), or MCA stenosis or occlusion (N = 29). In regard to the probability of stroke, this group of patients compares favorably with population studies of patients with transient ischemic attacks of undetermined cause. When this surgical group was compared with 130 nonsurgical patients who had had ischemic symptoms related to proven internal carotid artery occlusion between 1965 and 1975, however, we could not conclude that the risk of occurrence of stroke was less in patients who had STA-MCA bypass than in the nonsurgical patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗

Emergency embolectomy for acute occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.

Twenty cases treated with emergency embolectomy for acute occlusion of the middle cerebral artery were reviewed. There were 10 males and 10 females, with an average age of 55 years. The left middle cerebral artery was involved in 17 patients and the right in three. Flow was restored in 16 patients (75%). The embolus originated in the heart in seven, the carotid artery in seven, the aorta in three, an aneurysm in one, and an indeterminate source in two. It was technically most difficult to achieve patency with atheromatous emboli from the aorta. Two patients (10%) had an excellent result with no neurological deficit, five (25%) were left with a minimal deficit but were employable, seven (35%) had a fair result but were still independent and employable, four (20%) did poorly, and two (10%) died. Patients with an associated ipsilateral carotid artery occlusion did poorly. Collateral flow, as judged from preoperative angiograms, was the best predictor of outcome.

Acute Disease↗

Biocompatibility analysis of the Sundt-Kees booster clip and the Drake aneurysm clip. Technical note.

A combination of the Sundt-Kees reinforcing aneurysm clip applied to a Drake aneurysm clip in a piggyback fashion was studied for possible defects due to corrosion and or tissue toxicity. These two clips, which are made of similar metal (301 stainless steel), showed little or no defects when immersed in 5% saline or when implanted in rats for 6 months. This study demonstrates that clips made of similar metals can be used piggyback in patients without ill effects provided that they are carefully handled to avoid any abrasion or misbends which could conceivably lead to corrosion.

Animals↗

Cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Chronic cerebral vasospasm remains the most important cause of subsequent morbidity in patients who survive the first 48 to 72 hours after a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Prolonged arterial narrowing compromises cerebral hemodynamics and results in cerebral ischemia. Among patients in whom symptomatic chronic cerebral vasospasm develops, almost half die or have a serious residual neurologic deficit. Present evidence indicates that sustained vessel narrowing results from structural changes within the arterial wall rather than from active contraction of vascular smooth muscle. The mechanism (or mechanisms) responsible for these changes is unknown, but damage from prolonged active arterial contraction, depression of vessel wall respiration, and an inflammatory response have all been proposed as explanations. Despite more than 30 years of intensive study, an effective treatment program for chronic cerebral vasospasm remains elusive. Recent therapeutic trials, however, based on efforts to interrupt the mechanisms responsible for these structural changes hold some promise.

Animals↗

Carbamazepine-induced hemolytic anemia.

A patient who had recently undergone craniotomy for a meningioma experienced carbamazepine (Tegretol)-induced hemolytic anemia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of hemolytic anemia clearly induced by carbamazepine.

Anemia, Hemolytic↗