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Biomedical subjects

V Gallucci

Publications and source records attributed to V Gallucci.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Postoperative pathology of congenital heart disease. I. Complete atrio-ventricular canal.

The postoperative pathology observed in 17 patients with complete atrioventricular canal, who died following total correction is described. In 3 patients, in whom valve replacement was necessary, the death was due to late prosthetic dysfunction. Out of 14 patients who underwent plastic repair, 4 died from undetected residual cardiac anomalies, which in 2 cases were associated with pulmonary obstructive vascular disease, 3 from unexplained myocardial infarction, 3 from inadequate postoperative care and 4 from pulmonary obstructive vascular disease which presented as an isolated finding. An analysis of the incidence of pulmonary obstructive vascular disease in these patients disclosed that it can develop before one year of age in some patients with Down syndrome.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1982

Postoperative pathology of complete atrioventricular defects.

Necropsy data on 15 patients, who died after operations for complete atrioventricular defect (CAVD), were reviewed in order to analyze the possible determinants of death. Two infants had undergone a palliative procedure--pulmonary artery banding (Group I); three patients had had prosthetic replacement of one or both atrioventricular (AV) valves (Groups II); and the remaining 10 had had conservative repair with plastic reconstruction of the AV valves (Group III). The most notable pathological findings related to death were as follows: Group I, left ventricular hypoplasia in both infants; Group II, prosthetic dysfunction in all patients; Group III, extracardiac diseases in two-patients and cardiac lesions in six. In Group III severe pulmonary vascular obstructive disease (PVOD) was observed as an isolated finding in two patients and in combination with residual intracardiac anomalies in another two. Analysis of the incidence of PVOD demonstrated that irreversible changes may occur within the first year of life in babies with Down's syndrome, and that these changes well correlate with the calculated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) values. From the results of this study we have reached the following conclusions: (1) Prosthetic valve replacement has to be avoided because of a high incidence of prosthesis-related complications and the effectiveness of conservative repair; (2) residual untreated anomalies may affect the outcome of operation and should be accurately recognized and weighted preoperatively; (3) PVOD can occur in CAVD even before the first year of life and can be reliably assessed by the measurement of PVR. High degrees of PVOD frequently interfere with the surgical success, particularly when residual intracardiac anomalies are present. Therefore, we suggest that surgical correction be planned, when indicated, during the first 6 months of life.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Cusp disruption by massive lipid infiltration. A rare cause of porcine valve dysfunction.

A 68-year-old man underwent reoperation because of severe incompetence of a mitral valve xenograft, 96 months following implantation. Gross examination of the device showed yellow spots on the cusps, suggesting lipid infiltration, and a torn commissure. Plasmatic cholesterol and lipiprotein levels were normal. X-ray examination of the explants showed no calcific deposits. Histologic and electron microscopic studies disclosed massive accumulation of lipid clefts and droplets, predominantly at the level of the tear; focal loss and detachment of the endothelial lining and scanty porcine fibroblasts and collagen bundles with preserved periodicity were also noted. Primary disruption of porcine valvular bioprostheses without significant calcifications or collagen breakdown is uncommon. In the present case, lipid accumulation was the main determinant of tissue failure.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Pregnancy in a patient after mitral valve replacement with a porcine bioprosthesis.

The course of two pregnancies in a woman, who had previously undergone mitral valve replacement with a porcine bioprosthesis, is reported. The present case suggests that porcine heterografts are to be considered as the most suitable cardiac valve substitutes in females of childbearing age, since anticoagulants are not needed, avoiding therefore the risks related to both an incorrect anticoagulation and to the recognized teratogenic effect of coumarin drugs.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Aortic valve replacement in rheumatoid aortic incompetence.

Cardiac valvular involvement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is rare and seldom so severe as to require surgery. The present report is concerned with a case of rheumatoid aortic incompetence successfully treated by prosthetic valve replacement. As suggested by previous similar reports, surgery is the most effective therapy for clinically significant rheumatoid endocarditis.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed1981

Delayed cardiac tamponade following open heart surgery. Analysis of 12 patients.

The present report reviews our experience with 12 cases of delayed cardiac tamponade following open heart surgery, which occurred at various times after the seventh postoperative day (average 19 days). In each case the diagnosis was made on clinical grounds, supported by the radiographic findings in all, and confirmed by echocardiography in 4. Pericardial effusion was serous in 5 patients, sero-sanguineous in 3, sanguineous in 3, and purulent in one; it was most frequently caused by a postpericardiotomy syndrome (7 cases). A single pericardiocentesis was curative in 6 instances, while repeat procedures were required in 2 because of recurrence. A repeat median sternotomy was performed in 5 patients associated with pericardiocentesis, and a pericardiectomy in 2. Three patients died within one month from the initial operation; no recurrences have been noted so far in the long-term survivors. According to the results of the present investigation, early clinical recognition is considered the clue to a successful outcome. Sole pericardiocentesis is followed by immediate improvement of the patient's state, and is often curative, but recurrences may require other maneuvers for further fluid evacuation. Awareness of this possible complication may contribute to a decrease in the still high mortality rate associated with this condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Aortic valve replacement in active infective endocarditis.

From 1970 to 1979, 23 patients underwent isolated aortic valve replacement because of active infective endocarditis at our Institution. The main indications for open heart surgery were cardiac failure unresponsive to medical treatment, embolic episodes and septic status. Staphylococci and streptococci were the most frequent offending microorganisms, which could be identified either from blood or valve cultures in 65.2% of the cases. Operative and late mortality was low (4.3 and 4.5% respectively), and postoperative complications rare. The favorable results, probably related to early surgical treatment, and the low incidence of postoperative complication seem to warrant an aggressive approach in the active phases of infective endocarditis involving the aortic valve.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The release of beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4 during extracorporeal circulation for open heart surgery.

Cardiopulmonary bypass is extremely damaging to platelets and it causes a quantitative and qualitative alteration in their functions. We evaluated the release of two platelet-specific proteins, beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4), in patients who underwent extracorporeal circulation for open heart surgery. A parallel release (basal value beta TG: 119.6 ng/ml, PF4 30 ng/ml) was present for both proteins in a time dependent fashion until the end of extracorporeal circulation. High average levels were observed in patients in whom the bypass was stopped after about 1 h (beta TG 1606 ng/ml, PF4 745 ng/ml) and similarly in those in whom the bypass was stopped after about 2 h (beta TG 1540 ng/ml, PF 4754 ng/ml). No correlation was found either between the level of PF4 and the additional heparin administered after the initial standard dose (r = 0.29, P greater than 0.10) and between the level of PF4 and the amount of heparin consumed during the bypass (r = 0.05, P greater than 0.5).

Beta-Globulins↗
PubMed1981

[Surgical treatment of infectious endocarditis in the active phase. Experience in 40 cases].

Despite recent advances in antimicrobial therapy infective endocarditis (IE) still remains a major surgical problem. All patients undergoing surgical treatment for IE at our Institution since 1970 were reviewed; among these in 40 IE was considered to be active at time of operation. Thirty patients were males and 10 females, ranging in age from 11 to 66 years (average 41); indications for operation were heart failure in 31, mycotic emboli in 5, and sepsis in 4. Nine were in NYHA functional class 11, 18 in NYHA class III, and 13 in class IV. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed in 24 cases, mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 5 and multiple valve replacement (PVR) in 11. Overall hospital mortality was 15% (4.2% in the AVR group, 40% in the MVR group, and 27% in the PVR group). Postoperative follow-up was available in all survivors. Four patients died in the late postoperative period for not infective causes. Almost long-term survivors show, from 7 months to 10 years (average 58 months) postoperatively, a significant improvement. No complications related to the initial infective process were recorded. According to the results of the present study the following conclusions can be drawn: 1) active IE does not represent a contraindication to open heart surgery and prosthetic valve replacement; 2) the surgical results depend not only on the degree of cardiac failure, but mainly on its duration; 3) early surgical intervention affects favourably the prognosis, especially in cases of isolated aortic valve involvement; 4) the surgical management of IE removes the focus of infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

[Early hemodynamic changes after mitral valve replacement with the Hancock prosthesis].

In mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis the persistence of a depressed cardiac performance immediately after operation has been outlined by several authors. The choice of a porcine central flow prosthesis, that has several theoretical advantages, should allow better acute hemodynamic results. Therefore ten patients have been studied by thermodilution methods and the variations in their hemodynamic parameters has been evaluated with a paired T-Test. Results confirm the persistence of a depressed cardiac function throughout the time span of the study (36 hours). This behaviour could be related to the use of Kirsch solution for myocardial protection. Therefore the authors compare a similar group of nine patients that underwent mitral valve replacement with differently designed prosthesis and the use of a St Thomas analogue cardioplegic solution. They conclude for the persistence, in the acute postoperative period, of an intrinsic myocardial dysfunction.

Adult↗