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Periconceptional supplementation with folate and/or multivitamins for preventing neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND: Neural tube defects arise during the development of the brain and spinal cord. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of increased consumption of multivitamins or folate on the prevalence of neural tube defects before pregnancy and in the first two months of pregnancy (periconceptionally). SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised trials comparing periconceptional supplementation by multivitamins with placebo, folate with placebo, or multivitamins with folate; different dosages of multivitamins or folate; prepregnancy dietary advice and counselling in primary care settings to increase the consumption of folate-rich foods, or folate-fortified foods, with standard care; increased intensity of information provision with standard public health dissemination. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: Four trials involving 6425 women were included. The trials all addressed the question of supplementation and they were of variable quality. No dissemination trials were identified. Periconceptional folate supplementation reduced the incidence of neural tube defects (odds ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.15 to 0.53). Folate supplementation did not significantly increase spontaneous abortion, ectopic pregnancy or stillbirth, although there was a possible increase in multiple gestation. Multivitamins alone were not associated with prevention of neural tube defects and did not produce preventive effects when given with folate. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Periconceptional folate supplementation has a strong protective effect against neural tube defects. Information about folate should be made more widely available throughout the health and education systems. Women whose fetuses or babies have neural tube defects should be offered continuing folate supplementation. The benefits and risks of fortifying basic food stuffs, such as flour, with added folate remain unresolved.

Dietary Supplements↗

The Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program: 35 years of birth defects surveillance at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

BACKGROUND: The Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP) is a population-based birth defects surveillance program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that has been collecting, analyzing, and interpreting birth defects surveillance data since 1967. This paper presents an overview of MACDP current methods and accomplishments over the past 35 years. METHODS: MACDP actively monitors major birth defects among infants born to residents of five counties of metropolitan Atlanta, an area with approximately 50,000 annual births. Cases are ascertained from multiple sources, coded using a modified British Pediatric Association six-digit code, and reviewed and classified by clinical geneticists. RESULTS: MACDP has monitored trends in birth defects rates and has served as a case registry for descriptive, risk factor, and prognostic studies of birth defects, including studies of Agent Orange exposure among Vietnam War veterans, maternal use of multivitamins, diabetes, febrile illnesses, and survival of children with neural tube defects. MACDP has served as a data source for one of the centers participating in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, and for developing and evaluating neural tube defects prevention strategies related to the periconceptional use of folic acid supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Since its inception, MACDP has served as a resource for the development of uniform methods and approaches to birth defect surveillance across the United States and in many other countries, monitoring birth defects rates, and as a case registry for various descriptive, etiologic, and survival studies of birth defects. MACDP has also served as a training ground for a large number of professionals active in birth defects epidemiology.

2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis--groups of defects in microdebridement (polygenetic defects exceeding the fault tolerance threshold--a consequence of natural defense mechanisms).

Lupus erythematosus (LE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are groups of defects in microdebridement of tissue which includes removal of infectious agents and cellular debris. They are the phenotypic response to a number of polygenetic and/or induced defects. The recognized clinical patterns of these disorders are the responses to accumulated tissue debris and complications of secondary debridement mechanisms that cannot function properly due to basic defects in the debridement system. The series of events that occurs after infection or tissue damage is polygenetic and involve multiple pathways. Genetic polymorphism of this group of mechanisms increases survival against a wider variety of infections. An organism capable of bypassing or destroying a specific step in the host defense is still eliminated by the host in spite of the created defect (a fault tolerant system). However, a single mutant error of this same step creating the same defect will not disrupt the host to the point of clinical illness or death. The pathways are broad enough to bypass some mutant errors. It is the same fault tolerant system. Increased pressure on the system from infection or tissue damage or a combination of multiple genetic defects results in enough faults to exceed the threshold of fault tolerance and produce clinical patterns of disease. The large number of possible combinations of defects gives rise to marked disease variation among patients. The higher frequency of some defects or combination of defects ces subsets. Inbred strains of animals have less polymorphism and thus some strains have a greater susceptibility to infections, LE and RA. Many of the phenomena that occur in LE and RA are secondary to the basic defect of inadequate tissue debridement. Rheumatoid factor (RF) is generally a normal beneficial phenomenon of increasing particle size so that immune complexes can more readily be removed by the reticuloendothelial system. In the presence of defective microdebridement the system is overloaded and no longer effective. This results in circulating RF. There are clearly multiple basic genetic defects. For example, the known multiple genetic defects in complement in LE are relevant to the systems involved. They are important ligands for defense and debridement mechanisms. A null allele is not likely to be a secondary phenomenon. It might be in a fault tolerant site and contribute to disease in one host, and yet not contribute to disease in another host.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

Linking teratogen information service and birth defects registry databases to improve knowledge of birth defect status.

BACKGROUND: Although teratogen information services (TISs) obtain maternal exposure information from their callers, such services often do not know if the pregnancies were affected by a birth defect. This study attempted to improve the completeness of this information for Texas Teratogen Information Service (TTIS) callers by linking their records with the Texas Birth Defects Registry (TBDR) and Texas birth certificates (TBCs). METHODS: A total of 344 expectant mothers called TTIS with expected dates of delivery between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2001. These pregnancies were linked with TBDR and TBC data. The percentages of pregnancies with known birth defect information both before and after the linkage were compared. RESULTS: The TTIS originally collected birth defect status information for 101 of the 344 callers (29.4%) and 0.6% of all 344 callers or 2.0% of callers with birth defect status information had a pregnancy affected by a birth defect. Linking TTIS records with TBDR and TBC data helped to raise the percentage of callers with birth defect status information from 29.4% to 71.5%. Among those callers, the percentage known to have birth defects increased from 2.0% to 4.1%. The sensitivity of TTIS follow-up calls in identifying birth defects was 50%, and the specificity was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Linking TTIS caller records with TBDR and TBC data significantly increased both the percentage of pregnancies with birth defect status information and the percentage of pregnancies identified as affected by birth defects. Such linkage may be a good approach by which TISs can increase the completeness of their birth defect status information.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗

The temporal sequence of spontaneous repair of osteochondral defects in the knees of rabbits is dependent on the geometry of the defect.

Damage to articular cartilage is a common injury, for which there is no effective treatment. Our aims were to investigate the temporal sequence of the repair of articular cartilage and to define a critical-size defect. Full-thickness defects were made in adult male New Zealand white rabbits. The diameter (1 to 4 mm) of the defects was varied in order to determine the effect that the size and depth of the defect had on its healing. The defects were made in the femoral groove of the knee with one defect per knee and eight knees per group. The tissues were fixed in formalin at days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 84 and 126 after operation and the sections stained with Toluidine Blue. These were then examined and evaluated for several parameters including the degree of metachromasia and the amount of subchondral bone which had reformed in the defect. The defects had a characteristic pattern of healing which differed at different days and for different sizes of defect. Specifically, the defects of 1 mm first peaked in terms of metachromasia at day 21, those of 2 mm at day 28, followed by defects of 3 mm and 4 mm. The healing of the subchondral bone was slowest in defects of 1 mm.

Animals↗

Radiographic defect depth and width for prognosis and description of periodontal healing of infrabony defects.

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to evaluate 1) defect depth and width as a prognostic factor and 2) change in defect width as a describing parameter of periodontal healing in infrabony defects treated by regenerative therapy after 6 and 24 months. METHODS: In 24 patients with advanced periodontitis, 39 infrabony defects were treated by guided tissue regeneration (GTR) using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) (n = 7) or bioabsorbable barriers (n = 32). Clinical parameters were assessed and 39 standardized radiographs (in triplicate) were taken before and 6 and 24 months after surgery. Using a computer-assisted analysis, the depth, width, and angle of the bony defects were measured. RESULTS: Statistically significant vertical clinical attachment gains (CAL-V: 3.15 +/- 1.63 mm to 3.31 +/- 1.65 mm; P<0.001) and bony fill (1.30 +/- 2.53 mm; P<0.01 to 1.54 +/- 2.70 mm; P<0.005) were observed 6 and 24 months postsurgically. In a multilevel regression analysis CAL-V gain was predicted by baseline CAL-V (P <0.0001), actual smoking (P <0.05), and age (P <0.1). Bony fill could be predicted by baseline height of the infrabony component (P<0.0001), gingival index at baseline (P<0.05), and actual smoking (P <0.01). In narrow (<26 degrees) and deep (> or = 3 mm) infrabony defects bony fill was more pronounced than in wide and shallow defects (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Improvement achieved by guided tissue regeneration in infrabony defects can be maintained up to 24 months after surgery. Narrow and deep infrabony defects respond radiographically and to some extent clinically more favorably to GTR therapy than wide and shallow defects. However, depth of the infrabony component was a stronger prognostic parameter than defect angle. Actual smoking impairs the results of GTR therapy in infrabony defects.

Adult↗

[Doppler echocardiography assessment of hemodynamic values and additional heart defects in atrial septal defects].

Due to the rapid progress in (Doppler-) echocardiography "one must question whether cardiac catheterisation remains a necessary prelude to cardiac surgery in atrial septal defects" (8). Although the estimation of the magnitude of the intracardiac shunt and the anatomical size of the defect ist possible by (Doppler-) echocardiography there remains the problem of associated disorders (e.g. anomalies of the pulmonary venous connection) which may not be detected by transthoracic echocardiography. In 25 children submitted to cardiac catheterisation studies in the period between 1990 and 1992, the anatomical size of an atrial septal defect was measured echocardiographically. The haemodynamic parameters Qp/Qs and Rp/Rs were employed to calculate the so-called effective resistance of the defect (Rd/Rs), which was derived from an electrical analogue and represents the ratio of the resistance of the defect (Rd) to the systemic vascular resistance (Rs). The echocardiographically measured anatomical size (expressed as the ratio of the area of the defect to the cross-sectional area of the ascending aorta) was related to the effective resistance of the defect. A significant (non-linear) correlation was found between Rd/Rs and the anatomical size of defect. Based on these data we developed a nomogram describing the relationship of the size of the defect to the haemodynamic parameters (Qp/Qs and Rp/Rs). If the data of a patient do not comply with this nomogram there is strong evidence of an additional cardiovascular malformation, necessitating further evaluation. A second cohort of four patients with associated defects (partial and total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and a corresponding sinus venosus defect) was clearly identified by the nomogram method.

Adolescent↗

Histomorphometric evaluation of the influence of the diabetic metabolic state on bone defect healing depending on the defect size in spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats.

Insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) has been shown to alter the properties of bone and impair bone repair in both humans and animals. The objective of this study was the detailed histomorphometric evaluation of the influence of the diabetic metabolic state on bone formation and remodeling during bone defect healing depending on the defect size in spontaneously diabetic BB/O(ttawa)K(arlsburg) rats, a rat strain that represents a close homology to IDDM in man. Based on blood-glucose values at the time of surgery, postoperative blood-glucose course, and postoperative insulin requirements, 80 spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats were divided into groups with well-compensated or poorly compensated metabolic state. Forty LEW.1A rats served as normoglycemic controls. Using a Kirschner wire, bone defects of different sizes were created proximal to the knee joint space in both femora. Ten animals from each group were killed on postoperative days 7, 14, 24, and 42, and specimens were processed undecalcified for quantitative bone histomorphometry. In terms of bone histomorphometry, our study did not show any differences in bone defect healing between the groups where the defect size was 0.4 mm. Larger bone defects (0.8 mm) only showed significant differences in the structural calculations after the 24th postoperative day exclusively in poorly compensated diabetic rats compared to well-compensated diabetic and control rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In bone defect sizes more than 1.2 mm, severe mineralization disorders occurred within the first 14 days exclusively in rats with poorly compensated diabetic metabolic state with a highly significant (P < 0.001) or significant (P < 0.01) decrease of all fluorochrome-based parameters of mineralization, apposition, formation, and timing of mineralization in comparison to spontaneously diabetic rats with well-compensated diabetic metabolic state and control rats. These results demonstrate that the bone repair of minor bone defects (0.4 mm) is independent of the diabetic metabolic state in spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats. In larger bone defects (more than 0.8 mm), the bone defect healing in spontaneously diabetic BB/OK rats is impaired exclusively in poorly compensated diabetic metabolic states. This study suggests that strictly controlled insulin treatment resulting in a well-compensated diabetic metabolic state will ameliorate the impaired histomorphometric parameters of IDDM bone defect healing.

Animals↗

Interaction between epidemiology and laboratory sciences in the study of birth defects: design of birth defects risk factor surveillance in metropolitan Atlanta.

Despite years of research, the etiology of most birth defects remains largely unknown. Interview instruments have been the major tools in the search for environmental causes of birth defects. Because of respondents' problems with recognition and recall, interviews are limited in their capacity to measure certain exposures. Laboratory scientists can have a major impact on defining markers of environmental exposure and genetic susceptibility. The Centers for Disease Control is starting a case-control study of serious birth defects on the basis of a population-based surveillance system for birth defects diagnosed during the first year of life in metropolitan Atlanta. Each year, 300 infants with selected birth defects (case subjects) and 100 population-based control subjects (infants without birth defects) will be enrolled in an ongoing study that will supplement surveillance. In addition to conducting extensive maternal interviews, we will collect blood and urine specimens from case and control subjects and their mothers for laboratory testing. Eventually, some environmental sampling may be incorporated. Particular areas of emphasis are (1) nutritional factors, specifically measuring maternal folic acid levels and other micronutrients (e.g., zinc) to explore their role in the etiology of neural tube defects, (2) substance use, specifically measuring cocaine metabolites in the blood and urine to explore their role for specific vascular disruption defects, and (3) environmental factors such as pesticides and aflatoxins, to explore their potential relationships with specific defects. In addition, a DNA bank will be maintained to evaluate the role of specific candidate genes in the etiology of birth defects. The development and testing of these methods could be useful to assess the interaction between environmental exposures and genetic susceptibility in the etiology of birth defects.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Osteochondral defects in the human knee: influence of defect size on cartilage rim stress and load redistribution to surrounding cartilage.

PURPOSE: To determine the influence of osteochondral defect size on defect rim stress concentration, peak rim stress, and load redistribution to adjacent cartilage over the weightbearing area of the medial and lateral femoral condyles in the human knee. METHODS: Eight fresh-frozen cadaveric knees were mounted at 30 degrees of flexion in a materials testing machine. Digital electronic pressure sensors were placed in the medial and lateral compartments of the knee. Each intact knee was first loaded to 700 N and held for 5 seconds. Dynamic pressure readings were recorded throughout the loading and holding phases. Loading was repeated over circular osteochondral defects (5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 mm) in the 30 degrees weightbearing area of the medial and lateral femoral condyles. RESULTS: Stress concentration around the rims of defects 8 mm and smaller was not demonstrated, and pressure distribution in this size range was dominated by the menisci. For defects 10 mm and greater, distribution of peak pressures followed the rim of the defect with a mean distance from the rim of 2.2 mm on the medial condyle and 3.2 mm on the lateral condyle. An analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction revealed a statistically significant trend of increasing radius of peak pressure as defect size increased for defects from 10 to 20 mm (P = .0011). Peak rim pressure values did not increase significantly as defects were enlarged from 10 to 20 mm. Load redistribution during the holding phase was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Rim stress concentration was demonstrated for osteochondral defects 10 mm and greater in size. This altered load distribution has important implications relating to the long-term integrity of cartilage adjacent to osteochondral defects in the human knee. Although the decision to treat osteochondral lesions is certainly multifactorial, a size threshold of 10 mm, based on biomechanical data, may be a useful adjunct to guide clinical decision making.

Aged↗

Evaluation of ventricular septal defect repair using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography: frequency and significance of residual defects in infants and children.

Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (IOTEE) is commonly used to assess for residual defect and the need to return to bypass after repair of ventricular septal defect (VSD). The frequency and significance of residual septal defects as noted on IOTEE has not been well defined. We evaluated the frequency of residual VSD via IOTEE and the relationship between size of a residual VSD and rate of reoperation. In addition, we looked at the relationship between the presence of a residual VSD via IOTEE and the presence of residual VSD at follow-up transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Residual VSD was measured via the largest width of the Doppler color jet diameter originating at the left ventricular septal surface. Of the 294 patients evaluated with IOTEE after VSD repair, one-third had a residual defect by IOTEE Doppler color flow mapping. Two-thirds of these defects closed spontaneously on TTE by the time of hospital discharge. There was no difference in frequency of residual VSD between simple (VSD closure alone, n = 90) and complex (VSD with associated lesions, n = 204) repair. Return to bypass with immediate reoperation was undertaken in nine patients, all of whom had significant shunt via oximetry (Qp/Qs > 1.5:1.0). All had residual VSD color jet diameters > 3 mm. Seven patients had residual color jet equal to 3 mm; however, hemodynamic studies did not reveal a significant shunt and none of these had reoperation. Seven patients with no VSD or < 3 mm residual VSD via had late reoperation to close residual VSD at 4 days to 5 months after initial operation. These were due to patch dehiscence or development of an "intramural" VSD in patients with conotruncal anomaly. A residual defect on IOTEE color Doppler measuring > or = 4 mm predicts the need for immediate reoperation, while a 3 mm defect may be significant and requires additional intraoperative hemodynamic evaluation. The majority of small defects noted on IOTEE are not present at discharge TTE. Patients with conotruncal defect repair should be followed closely for development of late significant "intramural" defects.

Age Factors↗

[Atrial septal defects: the importance of peroperative morphometric evaluation of defects].

The authors analyze the results of preoperative morphometry of atrial septal defects. They compare the area of the defect and the septal area in different types of defects. Based on the thus obtained relative value, they select either suture of the defect or its correction by means of a patch. They emphasize that during correction defects deformations and reduction of the septal area must be avoided. They do not admit the possibility that the suture of the defect is exposed to traction. Ostium secundum defects the area of which is greater than 40% of the septal area are suited for correction by means of a patch. An important indicator is the transverse dimension of the defect and of the septum. This relation determines the grade of deformity during an inadequately selected suture and the presence of traction mechanisms in the area of the suture and cardiac skeleton. The authors recommend more frequent use of patches also in ostium secundum defects in the cranial lateral and distal part of the atrial defect.

Adolescent↗

Increasing detection rates of birth defects by prenatal ultrasound leading to apparent increasing prevalence. Lessons learned from the population-based registry of birth defects of Barcelona.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the evolving trends in prenatal ultrasound detection of birth defects and to suggest a method to avoid the bias generated by an increasing detection rate, when comparing different time periods. METHODS: In the population-based registry of birth defects of Barcelona (REDCB), 1976 cases with birth defects (1462 newborns and 514 terminations of pregnancy) were observed among 99 753 pregnancies, from 1992 to 1999. Detection rates for isolated birth defects by anatomical systems were evaluated. Since an increasing prevalence was observed in some birth defects systems, adjustment for detection rates was suggested. RESULTS: A rise in prevalence was observed in isolated birth defects involving internal organs (central nervous, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems). Ultrasound detection rates increased in all system groups of isolated birth defects during the study period, except for cardiovascular defects. Early detection rates (before 23 weeks of pregnancy) increased in all but three systems (cardiovascular, genital and tegument). CONCLUSIONS: The apparent rise in the observed prevalence of certain birth defects may be largely due to improvements in prenatal detection methods. Population-based registries are able to measure the impact of evolving prenatal diagnosis in order to avoid biases and establish the prevalence of birth defects more accurately.

Congenital Abnormalities↗

Defect-determined regenerative options for treating periodontal intrabony defects in baboons.

BACKGROUND: In an effort to regenerate periodontal intrabony defects, the healing potential of the defect should determine what therapeutic modalities and materials are employed. The purpose of this study was to compare regenerative outcomes in baboon intrabony defects that were contained versus non-contained, using various regenerative therapies. METHODS: Nine adult baboons (Papio anubis) in good health were treated. Eighty-six interproximal, intrabony defects were surgically created: 43 contained by 3 walls of bone; 43 non-contained with a missing buccal wall. Chronicity and plaque accumulation were encouraged with wire ligature placement for 8 weeks. After ligature removal, scaling, and a 2- to 4-week healing period, the defects were treated with the following therapies: collagen membrane (GTR), human demineralized freeze-dried bone (DFDB) grafting (BG), combined therapy (GTR + BG) and a DFDB-glycoprotein sponge matrix (MAT). Clinical healing responses were evaluated in 58 sites by changes in soft tissue (recession, probing, clinical attachment) and hard tissue (resorption, defect fill) parameters 6 months post-treatment. Histologic evaluation (defect regeneration, connective tissue attachment, epithelial migration) was done on 26 sites. RESULTS: For contained defects, no real significant clinical (ANOVA) or histologic differences existed among treatments. However, for non-contained defects, combined therapy (GTR + BG) demonstrated clinically significant (P < or = 0.05, ANOVA) and histologically superior healing results over the other therapies tested. CONCLUSION: These results confirm a defect morphology directed rationale for periodontal intrabony therapy.

Alveolar Bone Loss↗

Prospective detection by Doppler color flow imaging of additional defects in infants with a large ventricular septal defect.

The use of Doppler color flow imaging and axial contrast angiography in the preoperative detection of additional ventricular septal defects (in the setting of a known large defect) were compared in a prospective fashion. One hundred seventy-nine infants with two ventricles (each of at least normal size) and a large, nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect underwent reparative surgery before 2 years of age. The reference standard for the presence of additional defects was intraoperative verification or (in cases in which the surgeon did not visualize any additional defect) subsequent identification at postoperative angiography, postoperative color Doppler examination or reoperation. Only six patients (3%) had additional ventricular septal defects confirmed at the time of repair; an additional five (3%) had defects found only postoperatively. The negative predictive value of Doppler color flow imaging and angiography was 0.95 (168 of 176) and 0.97 (168 of 174), respectively. The sensitivity was 0.27 (3 of 11) and 0.45 (5 of 11), respectively. For certain malformations with a very low prevalence of additional muscular defects (such as perimembranous ventricular septal defect with normally aligned great arteries), a clinical trial of reparative surgery without prior invasive study appears reasonable.

Angiography↗

Predictors of residual defects following closure of defects in the oval fossa using the Amplatzer device: echocardiography recapitulates morphometry.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to identify predictors of residual defects following deployment of the Amplatzer device to close septal defects within the oval fossa. METHODS: Between February 1997 and February 2000, we used the Amplatzer device to close defects in the oval fossa in 89 patients. Of these patients, 18 (20%) had residual defects. At 6 or 12 months following placement of the device, 13 defects (14.6%) had persisted. We evaluated several variables derived from clinical features, transesophageal echocardiography and catheterization to establish predictors for residual shunting. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified a shorter superior rim of less than 8 mm (Odds ratio = 10.1; 95% confidence intervals = 2.64-38.72; p = 0.001), and a smaller interatrial septum in the 30-degree transesophageal echocardiographic plane of less than 30 mm (Odds ratio = 5.5; 95% confidence intervals = 1.17-26.14; p = 0.03) as independent predictors of residual defects. When the analysis was repeated defining only those 13 patients with persisting residual defects at 6 or 12 months as failures, a short superior rim (p = 0.004) remained a predictor for residual shunting. CONCLUSIONS: Defects with a short superior rim and smaller interatrial septum in the 30-degree transesophageal echocardiographic plane independently and additively predict an increased probability of residual shunting following closure of defects in the oval fossa using the Amplatzer device.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

[Detection of a shunt flow through a defect in secundum atrial septal defect by right parasternal approach using pulsed Doppler echocardiography].

Pulsed Doppler echocardiography combined with two-dimensional echocardiographic (2-DE) system was performed to detect a shunt flow through a defect in the interatrial septum (IAS) in patients with secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) utilizing right parasternal approach (RPA). RPA is a method which provides an accurate evaluation of a defect in the IAS on a 2-DE image by placing a transducer on the right of the sternum because the ultrasonic beam passes in a plane almost perpendicular to the IAS. The subjects consisted of 20 patients with ASD (25 +/- 22 yrs) diagnosed by cardiac catheterization or 2-DE with peripheral contrast material injection, and 10 cases of healthy subjects (34 +/- 18 yrs). Defects in the IAS were clearly visible in 19 patients with ASD on 2-DE images by RPA. By placing the sample volume in the center of the defect, Doppler flows could be obtained in 17 of them. In 13 with sinus rhythm, except a case of Eisenmenger syndrome, Doppler signals showed mainly a laminar flow toward the transducer (positive flow), but a transient flow of low velocity away from the transducer (negative flow) was also observed. The positive flow had its peaks in late systole and atrial systole and occasionally in mid-systole, early diastole and mid-diastole. The negative flow occurred in early systole, mid-diastole and late diastole. In a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome and tricuspid regurgitation (TR), a negative turbulent flow was observed from early systole to mid-diastole. In three patients with atrial fibrillation, Doppler signals were variable. The Doppler echogram of a patient with atrial fibrillation but no complication showed a laminar positive flow with its peaks in late systole and mid-diastole, and a negative flow in early systole. One patient with atrial fibrillation and TR had a systolic negative turbulent flow and a mid-diastolic laminar positive flow. In a patient with TR and mitral regurgitation, the Doppler echocardiogram showed a laminar positive flow throughout the entire cardiac cycle with its peaks in early diastole and mid-diastole. Doppler signals from the left atrium (LA) to the right atrium (RA) through a defect coincided in timing with the appearance of negative contrast echo from the defect to the RA on 2-DE image and signals from the RA to the LA coincided with the appearance of the contrast echo into the LA from the RA through the defect. Doppler signals disappeared after the closure of the defect in all six patients examined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗