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Biomedical subjects

U Kaul

Publications and source records attributed to U Kaul.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Collateral circulation to the diagonal artery from the infundibular coronary artery in obstructive coronary arterial disease.

We report an unusual collateral pathway from the isolated infundibular (third coronary) artery to the diagonal artery in a young adult male with a history of recent anteroseptal myocardial infarction and apparently angiographically normal left and right coronary arteries. The isolated infundibular (conus) artery is an important source of collateral pathways in obstructive coronary arterial disease. Its selective arteriography is essential for complete angiographic evaluation of these patients.

Adult↗

Unmasking of sinus node dysfunction by ajmaline.

A 75-year-old male with bifascicular block presented with recurrent giddiness and presyncope. Prolonged monitoring of the cardiac rhythm did not reveal any arrhythmia. Electrophysiological evaluation, including an ajmaline stress test, was performed. Ajmaline had an unusual effect. It reproducibly induced sinus arrest and thus unmasked a latent sick sinus syndrome.

Aged↗

Surgical experience with diseases of the tricuspid valve. Cross-sectional and Doppler echocardiographic evaluation following DeVega's repair.

Seventy-eight patients undergoing mitral valve surgery with or without replacement of the aortic valve also underwent procedures on the tricuspid valve over a period of 10 years. All patients were in functional class III or IV preoperatively. The procedures were performed in all patients with organic disease of the tricuspid valve (N = 44) and in those with moderate or severe functional tricuspid valvar regurgitation (N = 34). Seventy-one patients underwent DeVega's annuloplasty with or without commissurotomy. The overall mortality was 11.5%. 65 long-term survivors were followed up for a period of 6 months to 10 years (mean 5.3 years). Sixty-three patients were in functional class I or II at the last follow-up. Six patients had clinical evidence of mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Regression of cardiomegaly (as judged by the chest radiograph and right ventricular hypertrophy seen in the electrocardiogram) was evident in most cases. Fifty-one of 54 patients evaluated by cross-sectional echocardiography were reported to have a functionally normal tricuspid valve. Doppler echocardiography in 28 patients showed no significant tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis in 26 patients. Eleven consecutive patients undergoing DeVega's annuloplasty were studied prospectively with pre- and postoperative Doppler echocardiography. Good correlation existed between right ventricular systolic pressures predicted by Doppler with those obtained preoperatively at cardiac catheterization. Postoperative Doppler echocardiography in these 11 patients showed complete restoration of competence of the tricuspid valve as well as normalisation of the right ventricular systolic pressure in 10 patients.

Adult↗

Digital subtraction venography for assessment of deep venous thrombosis in the arms following pacemaker implantation.

We recently performed digital subtraction venography and detected axillary venous thrombosis in a 56-year-old female with nonspecific symptoms related to the right arm following a permanent transvenous endocardial pacemaker implantation two years ago. In view of its cost-effectiveness and less invasive approach, digital venography appears ideally suited for evaluation of the frequently occurring subclinical deep venous thrombosis in these patients.

Arm↗

Experience with activity sensing rate responsive ventricular pacing. A study based upon assessment of exercise tolerance.

Fourteen patients (mean age 41 years) who received rate responsive activity sensing VVI pacemakers were studied to evaluate the relationship between the rate response and exercise tolerance by analysing the symptom limited maximum treadmill time both during fixed rate VVI oacubg abd dyrubg VVI + activity mode pacing (RRP). The proper functioning of RRP mode was confirmed by Holter monitoring in all. The indications for pacing were, sino-atrial block with high grade AV block, tachybrady syndrome, atrial fibrillation with complete heart block, congenital complete heart block and persistent slow junctional rhythm. Basic rate was programmed to 70 PPM in both pacing modes; rate response and activity threshold were programmed to 5 and medium respectively. The order in which two pacing modes were tested was chosen randomly. The maximum treadmill time (MTT) was 25.4% longer in the RRP than in VVI mode with a mean of 11.4 minutes in RRP and 8.5 mins in VVI(p less than 0.01). for the subgroup of patients who demonstrated paced only rhythm the average increase in MTT was 31.4% with a mean of 11.8 minutes in RRP and 8.1 mins in VVI (p less than 0.01). Five patients who showed intermittent spontaneous rhythm, increased their average MTT by 22.3% with a mean of 11.2 minutes in RRP and 8.7 mins in VVI mode (p less than 0.05). During RRP a significance positive correlationship was seen between MTT and the increase in heart rate (N = 14, r = 0.85, p less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

Association of coronary calcification with obstructive disease in coronary arteries in Indian patients.

A total of 1150 consecutive patients (1052 males and 98 females; age 51.2 +/- 10.1 years) with suspected coronary artery disease (Group I) were subjected to fluoroscopy for detection of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and coronary angiography. Another group (Group II) of 120 patients (95 males and 25 females; age 51.4 +/- 9.4 years) catheterized for cardiac diseases other than coronary artery disease (CAD) were subjected to the same protocol of fluoroscopy and coronary angiography to exclude incidental CAD in view of their age. CAC was present in 240 patients (20.0%) in Group I. Of these, 200 (83.4%) had triple-vessel disease (TVD); 20 (8.3%) had double-vessel disease (DVD); 19 (7.9%) had single-vessel disease (SVD); and 37 (15.4%) patients had left main coronary disease (LMCAD). Only one of these patients had insignificant CAD considered as "normal" coronary arteries (NC). Incidence of LMCAD, TVD, DVD, SVD, and NC in patients without CAC was 4.4%, 56.3%, 18.2%, 14.0%, and 11.5%, respectively. Incidence of CAC in patients with LMCAD, TVD, DVD, SVD, and NC was 48.1%, 28.1%, 10.8%, 13.0%, and 1.0% respectively. In Group II (n = 120), 24 patients (20%) had CAD, CAC was present in 5 patients with CAD (20.9%), and in two patients without CAD (2%). CAC is relatively uncommon in Indian CAD patients. Its presence, however, indicates severe multivessel disease.

Adult↗

Surgical experience with intracardiac myxomas.

Eighteen patients underwent surgery for intracardiac myxoma (16 left atrial and 2 right atrial) during the last 10 years. Seventeen patients had tumour stalk attached to the oval fossa. The myxoma was excised along with a cuff of the atrial septum, which was reconstructed using a Dacron patch in 15 patients and by direct suture in 2 patients. In the remaining case the myxoma was attached to the left atrial wall and adjacent atrioventricular junction. There was only one early death in a patient who underwent a concomitant lobectomy for lung abscess and one late death due to a noncardiac cause. During the follow-up period of 3-96 months (average 36 months) all the survivors were in New York Heart Association Class I. Scanning electron microscopy of tumour tissue was done in 8 cases. The morphological findings did not help in categorizing the tumours into any pathological subgroups. Postoperative cardiac catheterization done in 3 patients (30-50 months postoperatively) showed return of haemodynamics to normal. Echocardiographic studies done postoperatively have not revealed recurrence of tumour in any patient. Surgical excision of myxomas is possible with very gratifying long-term results.

Adolescent↗

Spatial quantitative vectorcardiography in aortic stenosis: correlation with hemodynamic findings.

Thirty-four patients with hemodynamically documented valvar aortic stenosis without congestive heart failure were studied by the corrected Frank lead system vectorcardiography, with special emphasis on the angular characteristics of spatial R max to define the severity of the lesion. Spatial QRS-T angle demonstrated a highly significant correlation with the peak left ventricular systolic pressure (r = 0.72, P less than 0.001) and a significant correlation with peak transvalvar aortic gradient (r = 0.49, P less than 0.01). Furthermore, all patients with a QRS-T angle of more than 90 degrees had significant aortic stenosis (TVG greater than or equal to 50 mm Hg). The peak left ventricular systolic pressure and transvalvar aortic gradient also demonstrated a significant negative correlation with azimuth angle (r = -0.36 and -0.34, respectively; P less than 0.05) and a positive correlation with spatial R max magnitude (r = 0.38 and 0.41, respectively; P less than 0.05). There was no correlation between elevation angle of spatial R max and left ventricle systolic pressure or transvalvar aortic gradient. Our study indicates that spatial quantitative vectorcardiographic angular characteristics, particularly spatial QRS-T angle, may be a useful adjunct to other noninvasive techniques to assess the severity of valvar aortic stenosis.

Adolescent↗

Sudden bradyarrhythmic death in dilated cardiomyopathy: a case report.

An 18-year-old male presented with biventricular failure and atrial fibrillation. Detailed investigations revealed the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy. He was put on medical treatment which resulted in symptomatic improvement. One year later he presented with 2 episodes of syncope, with no change in the routine electrocardiogram. A 24-hour ambulatory monitoring was done. The patient died suddenly while on the monitor. Analysis of the terminal event revealed a sudden complete heart block followed by asystole, an event described very rarely in the published literature.

Adolescent↗

Evaluation of patients with bundle branch block and "unexplained" syncope: a study based on comprehensive electrophysiologic testing and ajmaline stress.

Thirty-five patients with bundle branch block (BBB) and unexplained syncope underwent electrophysiologic study (EPS) including programmed ventricular stimulation and ajmaline administration (1 mg/kg, IV) to induce infra-His block. A prolonged HV interval (greater than 55 ms) was present in 16 of the 35 patients. Ajmaline-induced HV block occurred in 12 patients (complete HV block in 10, and 2:1 HV block in two). Monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) was inducible in nine (25.7%) and polymorphic VT in two patients (5.7%). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was less than 40% in five patients (45.5%) with inducible VT. Two patients had an unexpected co-existence of inducible HV block and VT. The remaining 14 patients (40%) had no detectable abnormality. The incidence of inducible VT was higher (45% vs 13.3%), and the presence of negative studies was lower (30% vs 53.3%) in patients with structural heart disease (n = 20), when compared to those with no significant heart disease (n = 15) (differences not significant [NS]). During a mean follow-up period of 16.5 +/- 9.2 months, all the patients with inducible HV block have been asymptomatic after having received permanent pacemakers. Patients with inducible monomorphic VT (except one with poor left ventricular function who died suddenly) have also been asymptomatic on antiarrhythmic drugs. Of the remaining patients, seven with normal EPS, two with prolonged HV intervals but no inducible HV block (despite being given permanent pacemakers) and one patient with polymorphic VT on antiarrhythmic drugs continue to have recurrent syncope. Approximately 60% of patients with BBB and unexplained syncope have clinically significant electrophysiologic abnormalities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Closed mitral valvotomy during pregnancy. A 20-year experience.

Closed mitral valvotomy for rheumatic mitral stenosis was performed on 126 pregnant women (average duration of pregnancy c. 21 weeks), 91% of whom were in NYHA functional class III or IV. Associated functional tricuspid regurgitation was present in 47 (37%) of the women, and 102 (81%) had critical mitral stenosis (digitally assessed valve area less than 1 cm2). There was no surgical mortality. Postoperatively 84% of the women were in NYHA class I. Clinical evidence of pulmonary artery hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation regressed postoperatively in most patients. Full-term normal delivery was achieved in 82% of the pregnancies, with total fetal mortality 6%. There were no congenital abnormalities and the infants' progress was normal. At 5-year follow-up 86% of the women were in NYHA class I or II and at 10 years the figure was 60%. The restenosis rate was 2%/year and the late mortality 3.3%. Closed mitral valvotomy during pregnancy thus was safe and reliable, giving significant functional and clinical improvement without adversely affecting the fetus.

Adult↗

Pregnancy in patients with prosthetic cardiac valve. A 10-year experience.

Pregnancy after valve replacement has been considered hazardous because of maternal and fetal complications secondary to anticoagulant medication, in addition to basic myocardial problems. Of 229 females aged 15-45 years with prosthetic valve replacement, 37 (including 34 with Björk-Shiley valve and anticoagulants) subsequently had a total of 47 pregnancies. Fullterm delivery of a normal infant was achieved in 40 cases. There were three premature births, two spontaneous abortions, one stillbirth and one ectopic pregnancy. The fetal mortality was 8.5%. Valve thrombosis developed in two cases, but surgical treatment was successful. Oral anticoagulants (acenocoumarin and dipyridamole) were continued throughout pregnancy. Heparin was substituted before labour began, but discontinued after delivery, when effective oral anticoagulation was resumed. Our experience showed that pregnancy in women with mechanical heart valve prosthesis and continued oral intake of anticoagulants is safe and successful in most cases.

Acenocoumarol↗

Electrophysiological studies in thyrotoxicosis with and without associated sick sinus syndrome.

Electrophysiological studies in 13 patients with thyrotoxicosis (5 men and 8 women, aged 17 to 76 years) are reported. Five patients presented with features of sick sinus syndrome (SSS) (Group A) while the remaining 8 patients (Group B) had no detectable cardiovascular abnormality. Sinus node function (corrected sinus node recovery and sinoatrial conduction time) was abnormal in all Group A but normal in Group B patients. Intra-atrial, artioventricular (AV) nodal, and infranodal conduction time and effective refractory period of atrium were normal in all patients in both groups. Effective refractory period of AV node was decreased in 6 patients (3 in each group). All Group A patients received radioiodine with complete clinical remission of sick sinus state in 4 subjects. Repeat electrophysiological studies in two of these patients, 6 and 12 months after treatment, showed complete normalization of sinus node function. This is the first reported electrophysiological study documenting the occurrence of SSS in thyrotoxicosis reversed by effective antithyroid treatment. We suggest that attempts should be made to identify underlying thyrotoxicosis in all patients with SSS, especially in the older age group. Appropriate medical treatment may prevent unnecessary implantation of permanent pacemakers in such patients.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗

Prognostic implications of complex ventricular ectopy in patients with and without structural heart disease. A study based on programmed electrical stimulation.

Fifty-six patients with complex ventricular premature beats (Lown grade IVa, IVb), but no evidence of ventricular tachycardia on 48 hours of continuous monitoring were evaluated by programmed electrical stimulation. Thirty patients had coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, 3 had valvular heart disease, 2 had cardiomyopathy and 21 had no structural heart disease. Programmed stimulation identified two groups of subjects: Group I comprised 11 patients in whom ventricular tachycardia was induced and Group II comprised 45 patients (which included 21 patients without heart disease) in whom no ventricular tachycardia was induced. The incidence of left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction less than 40%) was significantly higher in Group I as compared to Group II (P less than 0.001). There was, however, no difference between the grade of ventricular ectopy, HV interval or the incidence of bundle branch block between the 2 groups. Patients with inducible ventricular tachycardia (Group I) were put on laboratory directed anti-arrhythmic drug therapy. Patients without inducible tachycardia (Group II) were not given anti-arrhythmic therapy. The patients were followed up for 34 +/- 10 months. The incidence of sudden death (36.3% vs 6.6%, P less than 0.001) was significantly higher in Group I as compared to Group II. No patients without structural heart disease died during the follow-up. Programmed electrical stimulation fails to induce ventricular tachycardia in patients with complex ventricular ectopy but no structural heart disease. It is, however, possible to define a high risk subset in patients with structural heart disease and complex ectopy. The high risk patients with inducible ventricular tachycardia do not seem to benefit by anti-arrhythmic drugs, which may independently increase the risk of sudden death in treated patients. Patients in whom ventricular tachycardia is not inducible have better left ventricular function, a good long-term prognosis and do not require anti-arrhythmic agents.

Adult↗