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Biomedical subjects

V K Mehan

Publications and source records attributed to V K Mehan.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Delayed presentation of pericardial pseudocyst following blunt chest trauma.

An unusual presentation of blunt chest trauma is reported. A 21-year-old man presented with symptoms and signs of congestive cardiac failure. 2D echocardiogram showed a thickened pericardium with a mass compressing the right ventricle. CT scan revealed a large mass anterior and to the right of the heart with evidence of pericardial thickening and calcification. However, its delineation from the pericardium and its exact tissue characterization were not possible. Cardiac catheterization showed elevation and equalization of diastolic pressures in all cardiac chambers with characteristic waveforms suggestive of pericardial constriction. The precise definition and characterization of the mass was obtained only on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the chest which showed it to be a solid, well encapsulated, partially calcified mass between the heart and the diaphragm extending anteriorly and to the right of the right ventricle. These findings were confirmed at the time of thoracotomy. Histopathology revealed blood clots and hyalinised fibrous tissue without any evidence of granuloma or malignancy. This report highlights an insiduous, late presentation of blunt chest trauma. It also demonstrates the superiority of MRI over computed X-ray tomography for mediastinal paracardiac masses.

Adult↗

Coronary angioplasty in the young: procedural results and late outcome.

Procedural outcome of coronary angioplasty in 89 patients < or = 40 years was compared to an older group of 1,916 patients > 40 years. Young patients were more often male (98% vs. 81%), smokers (89% vs. 70%), and more stressed (subjectively) (29% vs. 15%) compared to the older group. Other coronary risk factors were less common in the younger group: diabetes (5% vs. 13%), and hypertension (19% vs. 40%). Left ventricular function, number of diseased vessels, and the number and location of sites dilated were similar in the two groups. Procedural success rates were similar in the two groups (90% in young, 86% in old; p = NS). Younger patients suffered no major complications of the procedure, in contrast to a myocardial infarction rate of 5%, and urgent bypass surgery and mortality rates of 1% each in the older group. Young patients were followed up for a mean of 30 +/- 26 months after the procedure, with an actuarial 5-year survival of 100%. Four patients (5%) required elective coronary bypass surgery: two due to a failed angioplasty attempt (failure to cross), the other two for progressive multivessel disease. A total of 28 patients (34%) required re-angioplasty (restenosis: 13%, progression elsewhere: 12%, both: 9%). All re-angioplasty procedures were angiographically and clinically successful, with no major complications. For young patients, coronary angioplasty is a safe and effective procedure. If technically feasible, angioplasty should be considered the initial therapeutic option without neglecting risk factor modification.

Adult↗

Balloon angioplasty for native aortic coarctation.

From May 1987 to August 1990, eighteen patients underwent balloon angioplasty for native aortic coarctation. The age of the patients ranged from four to fifty six years (mean age 17.5 years). The procedure was successful in all cases with a reduction in the peak gradient across the coarctation from 61 +/- 19 mm Hg to 11.7 +/- 8.1 mmHg (p < 0.05). The coarcted segment increased from 4.5 +/- 1.9 mm to 10.7 +/- 3.9 mm (p < 0.05). Peak gradient at six to twelve months follow up, obtained in ten patients, was 19.8 +/- 10.1 mmHg (p = NS). There were no life threatening complications, although seven patients had local vascular problems after the procedure. In two patients, there was persistence of hypertension necessitating drug therapy. On haemodynamic and angiographic restudy in 10 patients, one patient had restenosis and none had aneurysm formation. We conclude that balloon angioplasty is a safe, and less invasive alternative to surgery for native aortic coarctation with gratifying immediate and short term results.

Adolescent↗

Long term results of percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty in patients with valvular aortic stenosis.

The results of percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (PBAV) in 62 consecutive patients with valvular aortic stenosis are reported. The age of the patients ranged from 11 months to 72 years (mean 28 +/- 12 years). Hemodynamically successful dilatation was achieved in 58 out of 62 patients. This was associated with marked clinical improvement in these patients. The left ventricular aortic peak to peak gradient decreased from 96.67 +/- 38.4 to 28.14 +/- 26.5mmHg (p < 0.01). There were no deaths during the procedure. Only one patient died in the hospital during the same admission. There was an increase in aortic regurgitation (AR) by at least one grade in 25 (40.3%) patients. Femoral arterial thrombosis was seen in 9/62 patients, 5 of them requiring surgical intervention. Follow up was available in 28 (45.1%) patients over a period of 2-15 months (mean 9 +/- 3 months). Two patients died during the follow up period. Doppler evaluation of gradients was done in all 28 patients with 15 consenting to undergo repeat cardiac catheterisation. Although hemodynamically the restenosis rate was 35.7% (10/28), only 2 of these patients showed symptomatic deterioration. The success of dilatation and restenosis rate were independent of the etiology of aortic stenosis, presence of calcification and the number of balloons used. This study demonstrates that PBAV is feasible in valvular aortic stenosis at low risk and is able to produce significant clinical and hemodynamic improvement in most cases with a restenosis rate of 35.7% at a follow up period of 9 +/- 3 months.

Adolescent↗