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Biomedical subjects

V Gallucci

Publications and source records attributed to V Gallucci.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Performance of the Hancock porcine bioprosthesis following aortic valve replacement: considerations based on a 15-year experience.

All patients undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement with a standard Hancock porcine bioprosthesis (PB), from 1970 to 1983, were reviewed. There were 196 patients, 162 male and 34 female patients, with a mean age of 48 +/- 12 years. Operative survivors were followed up from 3 to 15.6 years (mean follow-up, 6.6 +/- 1.5 years), with a cumulative follow-up of 1,140 patient-years, being 100% complete. Actuarial survival was 51 +/- 15% at 14 years. Eight patients sustained systemic embolic episodes (0.7 +/- 0.2%/patient-year); actuarial freedom from emboli is 89.4 +/- 4.3% at 14 years. Reoperation was performed in 53 patients: in 6 because of endocarditis (0.5 +/- 0.2%/patient-year), in 7 because of perivalvular leak (0.6 +/- 0.2%/patient-year), and in 40 because of PB primary tissue failure (3.5 +/- 0.5%/patient-year). Actuarial freedom from PB-related deaths, PB failure, and overall PB-related complications at 14 years was 66.3 +/- 19, 34.3 +/- 11, and 30 +/- 10%, respectively. This long-term experience shows that the performance of the Hancock PB appears satisfactory up to 8 years, while it progressively deteriorates beyond 10 years because of the impact of primary tissue failure on valve durability, justifying the restriction of its use in the aortic position in selected patients.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1988

Technical considerations in reoperation for porcine bioprosthetic valve failure.

Reoperation in porcine valve recipients is becoming increasingly frequent, owing to the limited durability of the valves. In reviewing our experience with first reoperation for porcine valve failure in 191 patients over a 17-year period, we found that following certain routine surgical steps can minimize complications and improve the surgical outcome. Extended dissection of the heart is useful during mitral bioprosthetic replacement to enhance visualization of the failing device while retracting the left atrium without undue tension on fragile structures such as the left innominate vein-superior vena cava junction. This maneuver can be avoided, however, when replacement of an aortic bioprosthesis is required. Excision of a porcine valve is performed by peeling off the fibrous tissue overgrown on the sewing ring, which exposes the underlying sutures, cutting each knot, and finding a plane between the stent and the native valve annulus by careful blunt dissection. Care is taken not to cut the Dacron cloth of the sewing ring to avoid the potential for embolization of the silicone sponge contained within it. The use of this technique helps to minimize postoperative complications such as paravalvular leak or atrioventricular block and to preserve the native annulus, which facilitates insertion of a new prosthesis. Our experience indicates that first reoperation in porcine valve recipients can be performed with low risk, particularly in elective cases, and with a low incidence of complications related to repeat median sternotomy.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1988

The standard Hancock porcine bioprosthesis: overall experience at the University of Padova.

All patients undergoing aortic (AVR, n = 196), mitral (MVR, n = 502), and mitral-aortic (MAVR, n = 71) valve replacement with a standard Hancock porcine bioprosthesis (HPB) from 1970 to 1983 were reviewed. A total of 665 patients discharged were followed for 5,099 patient-years with an actuarial survival at 15 years of 52% +/- 4.5%, for MVR, 37% +/- 14% for AVR, and at 12 years of 52 +/- 7.4% for MAVR. Embolic episodes occurred in 9 patients after AVR (0.7% +/- 0.2% pt-yr), in 61 after MVR (1.7% +/- 0.2% pt-yr), and in 6 after MAVR (1.7% +/- 0.7% pt-yr); actuarial freedom from emboli at 15 years is 91% +/- 3.5% after AVR, 79% +/- 14% after MVR, and at 12 years is 87% +/- 5% after MAVR. Reoperation because of primary tissue failure (PTF) was performed in 47 patients with AVR (3.9% +/- 0.5% pt-yr), 91 with MVR (2.6% +/- 0.3% pt-yr), and in 13 with MAVR (4.1% +/- 1.1% pt-yr); actuarial freedom from PTF at 15 years is 41% +/- 5.5% after MVR, 37% +/- 10% after AVR, and at 12 years is 49% +/- 13% after MAVR. After AVR and MVR, freedom from PTF is significantly better for patients over 50 years of age.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Hancock bioprosthetic valve failure: causes, and results of reoperation.

Between March 1970 and the end of December 1986, 180 porcine valve recipients underwent reoperation at our institution because of bioprosthetic failure. Of these patients, 126 (70.0%) had mitral bioprosthesis replacement (MBR), which was necessitated because of primary tissue failure in 107 cases, prosthetic valve endocarditis in eight cases, and paravalvular leakage in eleven cases. Forty-six patients (25.5%) had aortic bioprosthesis replacement (ABR), owing to primary tissue failure in 37 cases, endocarditis in six cases, and paravalvular leakage in three cases. The remaining eight patients (4.5%) all underwent double (mitral and aortic) bioprosthesis replacement (DBR) because of primary tissue failure. In a total of 152 patients who underwent reoperation for primary tissue failure, the hospital mortality was 6.5% for the MBR group, 8.0% for the ABR group, and 0% for the DBR group (mean, 6.5%). In those 14 patients who required reoperation owing to endocarditis, the hospital mortality was 75% for the MBR group and 50% for the ABR group (mean, 64%). In another 14 patients who underwent reoperation because of paravalvular leakage, the hospital mortality was 9% for the MBR group and 0% for the ABR group (mean, 7%). Morphologic studies of the explanted valves revealed that tissue calcification is the most frequent cause of primary tissue failure in Hancock-valve recipients. Calcification leads to cusp stiffening with stenosis or to cuspal and commissural rupture with incompetence. Usually, primary tissue failure causes progressive dysfunction that allows for elective reoperation, which is associated with a low mortality; rarely, however, porcine xenograft failure can occur acutely and require emergency operation, which is associated with a significantly higher risk. Such operation was necessary in nine (6%) of our patients with primary tissue failure and resulted in four deaths (44%); conversely, elective reoperation was done in 143 patients with other primary tissue failure (94%) and resulted in six deaths (4%) (p<0.001). Our long-term experience with the Hancock bioprosthesis confirms that this valve's durability is limited. Therefore, we believe that the indications for the use of porcine bioprostheses should be restricted, until consistent data become available concerning the durability of the new generation of prosthetic valves.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

Repair of congenitally malformed mitral valve in children.

We report our experience with 30 children under 15 years of age treated surgically for congenital mitral valve disease from March 1972 to July 1986. Valve reconstruction was possible in 26 patients (87%), whereas in four the valve was replaced with a mechanical prosthesis. Five patients died in the hospital (16.6%), four after conservative operations and one after mitral valve replacement. There was only one late death in a child in chronic congestive heart failure. Three patients, treated conservatively, required valve replacement 2, 22, and 24 months, respectively, after the operation. Follow-up data reveal that 22 of 24 patients are asymptomatic 5 months to 15 years after operation. Two-dimensional echocardiographic studies were performed in 19 patients treated conservatively, 17 of whom are asymptomatic. Eleven of them have no signs of mitral regurgitation or stenosis, six show only mild mitral incompetence, and two have moderate mitral regurgitation or stenosis. Peak pulmonary artery pressure is within normal limits in all. Our results indicate that mitral valve reconstructive procedures for congenital valve dysplasia may be effective and reliable in children despite the frequent severity of valve malformation. Although no major prosthesis-related complications were observed in the present series, we believe that mitral valve repair should always be attempted in the pediatric population to avoid the drawbacks of the currently available prostheses.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Tricuspid atresia versus other complex lesions. Comparison of results with a modified Fontan procedure.

Several modifications of the Fontan principle are currently applied to the treatment of tricuspid atresia with low mortality. The use of these modifications in other malformations has most frequently been associated with less satisfactory results. At our institution, from June 1977 to October 1986, 35 consecutive patients, whose ages ranged from 8 months to 20 years (median age 3.4 years), underwent a modified Fontan procedure. Twenty patients with a median age of 3.2 years (group I) having tricuspid atresia (16 patients) or hypoplastic right heart syndrome (four patients) were treated by means of a right atrium-pulmonary artery anastomosis (12 patients) or right atrium-subpulmonary chamber connection (eight patients). Fifteen patients (group II) with a median age of 3.6 years, having a single left ventricle (10 patients), left atrioventricular valve hypoplasia or atresia (three patients), or double-outlet right ventricle (two patients), underwent right atrium-pulmonary artery anastomosis, together with a repositioning of the atrial septum to the right of the right atrioventricular valve, which thus left intact the inlet to the ventricle(s). The operative mortality rate was 25% in group I and 0% in group II. One patient in group I and one in group II died late postoperatively. All the 28 survivors are free of symptoms 3 months to 9 years after correction. According to our results, low risk can be associated with modified Fontan procedures in the treatment of complex heart malformations other than tricuspid or pulmonary atresia. Preserving the integrity of the entire inlet to the ventricle(s) by repositioning the interatrial septum, as done in group II malformations, might be helpful in improving the quality of the repair.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Post bending of the polypropylene flexible stent in mitral Hancock bioprostheses.

The occurrence of stent post deformity was investigated in 38 consecutive, polypropylene flexible-stented Hancock porcine bioprostheses (PB) recovered from the mitral position because of early postoperative death or late tissue failure. The degree of deformity was assessed for each explant by calculating the triangular area obtained by projecting the apex of the stent posts on a plane and comparing it with the same area calculated for unimplanted PBs of comparable size. A significant stent deformity (reduction of the triangular area greater than 40%) was observed only in 6 PBs explanted because of tissue failure after a mean function time of 69.6 +/- 28 months. In these PBs, scanning electron microscopy of the bare surface of the stent at the point of maximal flexion showed cracks 0.7-1 microns large, which represent the morphological substrate of the so-called "creep" of polypropylene. Inward stent post bending may occur after implantation in mitral PBs and when severe, it corresponds to a definite ultrastructural plastic deformity of polypropylene.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Long-term durability of the Hancock porcine bioprosthesis following combined mitral and aortic valve replacement: an 11-year experience.

Long-term evaluation of patients undergoing combined mitral and aortic valve replacement (MVR + AVR) with a porcine bioprosthesis provides the opportunity for a direct comparison of the durability of the mitral versus the aortic porcine bioprosthesis in the same patient. From 1970 to 1983, 71 patients underwent MVR + AVR with Hancock porcine bioprostheses. There were 46 men an 25 women ranging in age from 21 to 64 years (mean, 47.5 +/- 5 years). Sixteen patients (22.5%) died at operation. The survivors were followed from 0.2 to 11.5 years (mean, 5.7 +/- 3 years). Duration of follow-up was 313 patient-years and was 100% complete. Overall late mortality was 6.7 +/- 1.4% per patient-year (linearized incidence), and actuarial survival was 54.2 +/- 8% at 11 years. Endocarditis occurred in 4 patients (linearized incidence of 1.3 +/- 0.6% per patient-year); thromboembolic events were sustained by 4 patients (linearized incidence of 1.3 +/- 0.6% per patient-year); the event was fatal in 1 patient. Actuarial freedom from thromboembolism was 90 +/- 4.8% at 11 years. Reoperation for primary tissue failure was performed in 11 patients (linearized incidence of 3.5 +/- 1% per patient-year) with no deaths; in 7 patients both bioprostheses were explanted, and in 4, only the mitral bioprosthesis was replaced. The durability of explanted aortic and mitral porcine bioprostheses was not significantly different, and the evaluation of seven pairs of explanted aortic and mitral bioprostheses showed similar amounts of calcification. Actuarial freedom from reoperation because of primary tissue failure was 44.6 +/- 13.7% at 11 years.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1987

Prospective evaluation of combined carotid and coronary surgery.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of combined carotid and coronary surgery in reducing the incidence of neurological disturbances after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 144 consecutive candidates for CABG (group I) were screened for carotid disease noninvasively with Doppler ultrasonography (duplex). Twenty-six (18%) were considered at risk for stroke because of a severe (above 50% diameter reduction) stenosis; 20 (4 symptomatic and 16 asymptomatic) underwent combined surgery. Forty-seven other patients (group II) underwent CABG surgery without previous Doppler investigation. Only three patients (1.5% of the survivors) developed transient neurological disturbances after surgery; two who had normal internal carotid arteries belonged to group I, and one to group II. None of the six patients at risk for stroke who underwent only CABG developed neurological symptoms. The incidence of intra- and postoperative cardiac complications of the group who had CABG only compared to that of the group with combined surgery. We conclude that, although safe, combined surgery is not to be performed systematically on candidates for CABG with a significant internal carotid artery stenosis.

Brain Ischemia↗
PubMed1987

Psychosocial outcome one year after heart surgery. A prospective study.

Ninety-nine of 118 patients receiving cardiac valve replacements (n = 55) or coronary artery bypass grafts (n = 44) were studied before surgery and again one year after surgery. Psychological, social, and physical variables were assessed. For the 19 subjects not returning for follow-up, medical data collected by their general practitioner were available. The physical results of surgery were good, with over 90% of the patients showing improvement. Mean scores for psychological distress and quality of life improved; however, a bad psychosocial adjustment was present in about 25% of patients at follow-up. Bad psychosocial adjustment was not correlated with surgical results. The preoperative variables most predictive of poor psychosocial outcome were high scores in the general hypochondriasis and irritability subscales of the illness Behaviour Questionnaire, bad psychological adjustment characterized by high anxiety, depression, and global scores on the Symptom Distress Checklist, and ischemic rather than valvular heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Early mechanical failures of the Hancock pericardial xenograft.

From August 1981 to July 1984, a total of 97 Hancock pericardial xenografts were implanted in 84 patients, whose ages ranged from 13 to 75 years (mean 55.7 +/- 13). Mitral value replacement was performed in 17, aortic valve replacement in 54, and mitral-aortic valve replacement in 13. Operative survivors were reevaluated from July to September 1985. Cumulative duration of follow-up is 167 patient-years (range 0.5 to 4.1 years), and follow-up is 99% complete. The overall late mortality (at 4 years) is 3.6% +/- 1.4% per patient year, and the actuarial survival rate is 95.4% +/- 3% for aortic valve replacement, 74.7% +/- 16.5% for mitral valve replacement, and 67.1% +/- 20.7% for mitral-aortic valve replacement. One patient sustained a thromboembolic event after mitral valve replacement, but no such complications occurred after aortic or mitral-aortic valve replacement. Actuarial freedom from embolism at 4 years is 100% for aortic and mitral-aortic valve replacement and 93.3% +/- 6.4% for mitral valve replacement. Reoperation for Hancock pericardial xenograft dysfunction was performed in seven patients (five aortic and two mitral-aortic). In the aortic valve replacement group the causes were endocarditis in one, paravalvular leak in one, and primary tissue failure in three; all survived reoperation. The two patients with mitral-aortic valve replacement required reoperation because of primary tissue failure of both Hancock pericardial xenografts, and one died. All values explanted because of primary tissue failure showed commissural tears causing severe prosthetic regurgitation. Calcium deposits were severe in one and mild but unrelated to the cusp rupture in another. Collagen disarray was seen only at the site of the tears, whereas the collagen structure was well preserved in the intact parts of the cusps. Four patients with aortic valve replacement and one with mitral valve replacement show evidence of Hancock pericardial xenograft failure and are awaiting reoperation. The actuarial freedom from primary tissue failure at 4 years is 74.3% +/- 9.8% for aortic and 78.9% +/- 13.2% for mitral Hancock pericardial xenografts. At medium-term follow-up, the Hancock pericardial xenograft has shown poor durability and an extremely high rate of early mechanical failure, especially in the aortic position. These observations suggest the need for a close follow-up of Hancock pericardial xenograft recipients and possibly elective reoperation in asymptomatic patients with clinical evidence of prosthetic failure. These results have led us to discontinue the clinical use of this pericardial xenograft.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Dissecting cuspal hematomas. A rare form of porcine bioprosthetic valve dysfunction.

Large dissecting cuspal hematomas (DCHs) were present in six (3%) of 193 porcine bioprostheses (PBs) explanted at reoperation. In four mitral PBs, the DCHs contributed to valve dysfunction; in one aortic PB, DCH was the only determinant of failure, causing stenosis by cusp thickening and rigidity. In another mitral PB, DCHs were occasionally found in the setting of valve incompetence due to commissural tears. While confirming that DCHs are a potential but infrequent cause of PB failure, these observations demonstrate that they may involve PBs implanted both in mitral and aortic position and might be a complication of anticoagulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Repair of ventricular septal defect and aortic regurgitation associated with severe hemophilia B.

A child with severe factor IX deficiency who underwent an open-heart operation using extracorporeal circulation is described. The factor IX level was normalized immediately before operation and at the end of cardiopulmonary bypass by infusing prothrombin complex concentrate and fresh frozen plasma. Partial thromboplastin time and factor IX serum levels were monitored for 20 days postoperatively and showed factor IX activity higher than 50%.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

The use of intraluminal prosthesis in the surgical management of aortic dissection.

The treatment of acute aortic dissection requires expeditions and reproducible operations aimed at avoiding rupture of the dissection or its antegrade or retrograde progression. In 12 type A and 11 type B dissections the aorta was repaired using an intraluminal prosthesis to reduce the risk of hemorrhage and its related complications. Overall mortality rates were 33% in type A and 36% in type B patients, similar to that observed in patients operated with other techniques, but the incidence of intraoperative bleeding was possibly reduced and the cross-clamping time was significantly shorter. This method of repair is a sound alternative to conventional anastomotic suturing, particularly in clinically compromised patients and in the hands of surgeons on call, who may lack the experience of dealing with a particularly fragile aortic wall.

Aged↗