[Late complications of a pseudo aneurysm of the left ventricle: thrombus infection and purulent pericarditis]. / Complications tardives d'un faux anévrisme du ventricule gauche: infection du thrombus et péricardite purulente.

Pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication of left ventricle myocardial infarction. Rupture with tamponade and sudden death is the usual outcome. Surgical intervention remains the treatment of choice. Long term survival cases without surgery are rare. Infection of the thrombus is also a possible event. We report the case of a patient with postinfarction left ventricular pseudoaneurysm complicated by infection of the thrombus and purulent pericarditis involving a peptostreptococcus. Infection must be considered a potential complication of left ventricular pseudoaneurysms.

Evolution of untreated mild rejection in heart transplant recipients.

To elucidate whether mild rejection requires treatment, we retrospectively examined the spontaneous natural history of this histologic feature without an increase of immunosuppression. During a 4-year period, 55 heart transplantations were performed in 54 patients on whom 958 endomyocardial biopsies were performed. Among these biopsies, 162 specimens showed features of mild rejection. We studied the results of subsequent biopsies performed 7 to 10 days later, without any change in immunosuppression. These revealed regression of lesions to minimal rejection in 51 cases (31%), the same histologic feature in 82 cases (51%), or progression to moderate or severe rejection in 29 cases (18%). In 82% of these cases, therefore, no aggravation of histologic feature was observed. We separated the cases in which current-study biopsies showed mild rejection into three groups according to the result of the most recent biopsy, that is, minimal, mild, or moderate-severe rejection. The percentage of good outcome was not modified by the nature of the previous biopsy specimen: 84%, if minimal rejection was preceding the study biopsy; 82%, in the cases of mild rejection; and 77%, for moderate or severe rejection. We did not find significant differences in this evolution between patients with fewer or more than two moderate or severe acute rejections in the first 4-month period after heart transplantation (respectively, 15% or 24% progression to moderate or severe acute rejection after nontreated mild rejection).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new rejection criteria in the heterotopically placed rat heart by non-invasive measurement of Dp/Dtmax.

BACKGROUND: The heterotopic heart of rats has been a useful model in the evaluation of immunomodulatory protocols. Graft palpation usually determines the day of rejection. We present in this paper an original method of graft monitoring in allograft rejection. METHODS: Heterotopic cardiac abdominal transplantation was performed in Lewis isografts (n = 15) and in ACI to Lewis allograft (n = 15). A balloon connected to a measurement device was inserted in the left ventricle, and calculation of Dp/Dtmax was possible by recording the intra-left ventricular pressure. A ten-day follow-up was achieved with a daily comparison of palaption, ECG, and Dp/Dtmax. RESULTS: In transplanted hearts, Dp/Dtmax did not change in isografts but significantly decreased in allograft on posttransplantation Day 5 (PTD 5) vs PTD 0.1 and 3 (p < .01). Dp/Dtmax values on PTD 5 and 6 were also statistically significant in allograft vs isograft group (p < .01). Histological analysis at this time showed the occurrence of acute rejection in the allograft group. Graft palpation, and ECG remained normal until PTD 10 and no difference was observed between iso and allo groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that daily measurement of Dp/Dtmax in heterotopic heart is made possible by our implantable system without interrupting the graft, and gives a more accurate definition of graft rejection than a combination of palpation and ECG. In addition, this method would seem desirable when differences in survival may be expected to be of lesser magnitude.

A rare case of embolizing cardiac tumor: rheumatoid nodule of the mitral valve.

We report the case of a 65-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis who was admitted with a stroke. Echocardiographic examination revealed a multilobule, highly mobile tumor on the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. Surgical exploration showed a tumor infiltrating the valve, the annulus, and the adjacent left ventricular wall, which required complete valve resection. Histologic study demonstrated typical characteristics of a rheumatoid nodule.

Aortic valve replacement in elderly patients.

The results for 62 consecutive patients aged 70 or more given aortic valve replacement (A.V.R.) between 1970 and 1982 are reported. All the patients were in the New York Heart Association (N.Y.H.A.) functional class III (29%) or IV (71%); 54.8% had angina and 30.6% had experienced syncope. Forty patients had aortic stenosis (A.S.), 10 had aortic regurgitation and 12 had mixed aortic valve disease. The operative myocardial infarction rate was 6.4%. Tilting disk valves were used. Eighty percent of the patients were anticoagulated with Warfarin whilst twenty percent received only antiplatelet drugs. All the patients were followed up for a mean period of 26 months; late mortality was 22.6% with 4.8% cardiac deaths. The thromboembolic rate was 1.6% and the disinsertion rate was 3.2%. Cerebral stroke was fatal in 3 cases in anticoagulated patients but the mechanism of the accident was not known. At the termination of the study 93% of surviving patients were in N.Y.H.A. class I or II. No patient was in class IV. The probability of five year survival is 71% for the entire group.

Abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy in octogenarian patients.

The authors report 56 patients. 80 years of age or older who had an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): twenty seven were operated upon as emergencies, 7 with intra-peritoneal (Group I) and 20 with retro-peritoneal rupture (Group II). Twenty nine underwent elective surgery (Group III). Renal pulmonary and cardiac disease are frequent in octogenarian patients. The surgical repair consisted of 40 knitted bifurcated grafts and 16 aorto-aortic woven grafts. The overall in-hospital mortality rate is high (28.5%: 16 patients) essentially in "emergency" surgery: 71% for the seven Group I patients and 45% for the twenty Group II patients. The in-hospital mortality rate of 6.9% for the Group III of "elective" procedure is higher than the mortality rate of patients of all ages operated on for asymptomatic AAA in our institution which is 4.3%. Once a patient has been operated on successfully his life expectancy tends to parallel that of a normal population for his age group. These results can be improved with preventive measures such as elective surgery for asymptomatic AAA with a diameter of 6 cm or more. Operative contraindications are severe congestive heart failure, advanced pulmonary disease or neoplastic disease. The age "per se" is not a contraindication to aneurysmectomy. Physiologic rather than chronologic age should determine the selection for AAA in the over-80 age group. CT scans and MR are safe fast and non-invasive preoperative examinations for AAA.

Cardiovascular surgery and heparin induced thrombocytopenia.

The Authors report a series of 21 cases of heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) observed in a Department of Cardiovascular Surgery. The indication for heparin treatment was a cardiac procedure in 12 cases, peripheral arterial reconstructive surgery in 3 cases and in 6 cases a prevention of embolism. Two routes were used for heparin administration: subcutaneous and intravenous injections. The diagnosis was biological on low platelet counts (p.c.) in 4 cases, in 7 cases a deep venous thrombophlebitis and in 9 cases an acute arterial ischemia complicated the heparin treatment. From the 7th to 15th day after heparin treatment the p.c. had risen to the average value of 46,857/mm3. The diagnosis was clinical in 3 cases, biological with a positive aggregation test in the presence of heparin in 11 cases out of 14 biological tests performed and pathological with observation of white clots in 11 cases. The related mortality rate to HIT was 28.5% of the cases (6 cases). HIT is a rare but severe complication often associated with thrombo-embolic complications. The routine check of p.c. before and after the first week of heparin treatment is reasonable. The negative aggregation test in the presence of heparin does not permit to confirm this diagnosis. The drop in the p.c. between the 6th to 10th day after heparin treatment required an immediate arrest of this type of anticoagulation and replacement with Coumadin. The low molecular weight Heparin may induce cross matching reactions with heparin and therefore is not used as treatment for HIT. In emergency, cardiac surgery with the use of the extra-corporeal circulation device can be performed with success with heparin (2 cases).

Simultaneous orthotopic transplantation of carotid and aorta in the rat by the sleeve technique.

Graft vascular disease (GVD) remains the major limitation to long-term survival after solid organ transplantation. Aortic or carotid allografts in rats have been shown to be useful models because similar changes to those observed in man develop within weeks. Both immunological and non-immunological factors influence the process of GVD and a method that could permit rapid multiple arterial allotransplantation in the rat would be of great value. We performed simultaneous orthotopic aortic and carotid allotransplantations in 25 rats. The vessels were anastomosed using a sleeve technique. No immunosuppression was given. The animals were killed at 15, 30, or 60 days and histological analyses of the grafts were performed. The overall survival rate was 80% and the incidence of technical failure was very low. The histopathological aspect revealed typical progressive GVD. In conclusion, we have developed a new model of simultaneous aortic and carotid transplantation in rats. This model, which incorporates a modification of the sleeve anastomosis, is rapid and yields an easy tool to investigate immunological and non-immunological processes driving GVD.

[Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta]. / Roturas traumáticas de la aorta torácica.

This is a retrospective analysis of 50 postraumatic aortic rupture (1968-1996, 39 males, mean age: 34.5). Group A is composed of 35 patients with an acute aortic rupture and a prompt diagnosis. Group B includes 13 patients with a chronic rupture. All patients from group A had a severe politraumatism with abdominal, cranial, extremities or hip fractures. Mediastinal thickening with or without hemothorax indicated an angiography or a transesophageal echocardiography lately. In group A, 36 patients have been operated on urgently (12-24 hours); cardiopulmonary bypass was performed on 20 patients; an aorto-aortical bypass was done in 27 cases and a direct suture in the remaining 9. In group B, cardiopulmonary bypass was performed on 9 patients; a aorto-aortical bypass was done in 11 cases and a direct suture in 2. Overall hospital mortality was 16%; 19% in group A and 7.6% in group B. Ischemic paraplejia appeared in 5 patients (10%), all from group A. No false aneurysm developed after 4.5 years of follow-up (3-135 months) in the 38 survivors. The usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography, the importance of medular protection and the utility of several interventionist radiologic techniques are discussed.

[Lateralization of renin secretion in renovascular hypertension with bilateral arterial stenosis]. / Latéralisation de la sécrétion de rénine dans l'hypertension réno-vasculaire avec sténose artérielle bilatérale.

A retrospective analysis of peripheral and renal vein plasma renin activity has been performed in 9 patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis (3 fibromuscular dysplasia and 7 atherosclerosis). In all cases angiography showed a reduction of the arterial diameter of more than 70 p. 100. The renal artery was occluded in 3 cases. All patients received a constant sodium diet (100 mEq/day). Peripheral PRA values were classified as normal or low in 6 cases (less than 2.8 ng/ml/h) and high in one case (greater than 2.8 ng/ml/h): this values concerned 2 cases with renal artery occlusion and 1 case with a narrowing of 90 p. 100. Renal venous renin ratio of 1.5 or more has been found in 8 cases. In one case, the stenosis was quite symmetrical (70 p. 100) and the ratio less than 1.5. The secretion index has been calculated as the ratio between the venoarterial difference of both affected and unaffected side over the arterial value of PRA (V-A/A). On the more stenosed side, was found a V-A/A ratio of 0.5 or more. This ratio is particularly high in case of artery thrombosis, but there is no correlation between the ratio and the degree of stenosis. On the contralateral side, where the lesions were less important, the V-A/A ratio was low, ranging from 0 to 0.2; this estimation of renin secretion was found despite a significant stenosis on the angiography. 7 patients underwent PTA or surgery. 2 kidneys with arterial thrombosis were nephrectomized. In 5 cases the surgical treatment is performed on the 2 sides during the same procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Heart valve diseases specific in rheumatoid polyarthritis. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Les cardiopathies valvulaires spécifiques dans la polyarthrite rhumatoïde. A propos de deux observations.

Rheumatoid nodules represent a rare cardiac valvular involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. Patients are usually asymptomatic. We report two cases of such involvement: one presented as a tumour implanted on the mitral valve, with systemic embolisation; the other presented as aortic regurgitation with acute heart failure. Surgical treatment was performed in both cases. Histological examination revealed typical rheumatoid nodules. The authors discuss valvular involvement in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Long-term results of the surgical treatment of acute type A thoracic aortic dissection]. / Résultats à distance du traitement chirurgical des dissections aiguës de l'aorte thoracique de type A.

Out of a population of 110 patients operated as an emergency for acute Stanford type A dissection of the thoracic aorta between 1985 and 1994, there were 84 survivors. Seventy-nine were assessed after a mean follow-up period of 47.3 months. The corrected 1 year, 5 year and 10 year survival rates were 69 +/- 5.1%, 53.1 +/- 6% and 42.1 +/- 7.1% respectively. There were 19 deaths during the study period: in two thirds of cases death was due to cardiovascular complications related to the aortic pathology or hypertension. There were 13 reoperations in 12 patients for complications on the initial site of repair or for progression of the pathological process. The average time to reoperation was 21.5 months with an operative mortality of 3 patients (25%). Predictive factors of reoperation were young age (52 +/- 4.4 years vs 60.1 +/- 1.4 years; p = 0.037), the persistence of a patent false lumen (p = 0.033) and the initial surgical techniques as the incidence of reoperation seemed to be higher after treatment with biological glue alone or resuspension of the aortic valve compared with replacement of the ascending aorta or Bentall's procedure (p = 0.08). The incidence of reoperation also varies with time as it was 1.8 +/- 0.7% at 1 year, 18.5 +/- 6.5% at 5 years and 26% +/- 7.8 at 10 years. In spite of improvements in surgical technique and postoperative care, acute type A dissection of the aorta carries a poor prognosis in both the short and the long-term with a notable number of cardiac or other complications related to repair of the initial aorta. Analysis of these and other reported results suggest that initial surgery should be as complete as possible with extension to the aortic arch when involved: this more aggressive attitude should improve the long-term results by reducing the risk of reoperation responsible for a high mortality rate.

[Valve replacement associated with aorto-coronary bypass in ischemic mitral insufficiency]. / Le remplacement valvulaire associé au pontage aorto-coronaire dans i'insuffisance mitrale ischémique.

26 cases of ischaemic mitral regurgitation (MR) were treated by combined surgery: mitral valve replacement (MVR) and coronary bypass grafting (CBG). This type of operation is not common (1.3 p. 100 of all operations) and is usually reserved for men (21 cases) of middle age (average 59 years). A half of the cases had suffered previous myocardial infarction (MI), an average 5 months before surgery (range 20 days to 2 years). The other half had severe angina or ECG changes of myocardial ischaemia. 23 patients were in Class IV (15 patients) or Class III (8 patients) of the NYHA classification. 6 of the cases required intraaortic balloon pumping. Mitral regurgitation was severe () in half of the cases with a raised pulmonary capillary (mean V wave = 52 mmHg) and systolic pulmonary artery pressures (mean = 47 mmHg: exceeding 60 mmHg in 7 cases). The coronary lesions were severe in 18 patients (12 cases of double and 6 of triple vessel disease including 2 cases of left main stem stenosis). Ruptured chordae were found in 11 cases and papillary muscle necrosis in 4 cases. Surgery comprised MVR with 12 bioprostheses and 14 mechanical prostheses. 33 CBG were performed (anterior wall: 15 cases, posterior wall: 11 cases). In addition, one tricuspid annuloplasty and 3 ventricular aneurysmectomies were carried out. The hospital mortality was 15.4 p. 100. The main causes of morbidity were low output states and postoperative MI (2 cases).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hypoplasia of the abdominal aorta. Review of the literature apropos of 4 cases]. / Hypoplasies de l'aorte abdominale. Revue de la littérature à propos de 4 observations.

The authors report 4 cases of abdominal aortic hypoplasia and, reviewing the literature, recall the anatomical classifications and the clinical aspects predominated by arterial hypertension and arterial claudication. Pathogenesis does not seem to be univocal and some arguments are in favor of a congenital origin when others plead for an acquired inflammatory disease. But above forty one must consider the possible responsibility of added atheroma. The numerous operative techniques point out the difficulties encountered in the treatment of the aortic lesions and associated arterial, mainly renal lesions. The polymorphism and complexity of these lesions oblige to vary the choice of indications.

[Disobliteration of coronary arteries by the laser. Peroperative experience]. / Désobstruction des artères coronaires par faisceau laser. Expérience per-opératoire.

The authors report their experience of coronary artery disobliteration by laser in 10 patients. This was a preliminary study to assess the effects of an Argon laser on atheromatous coronary stenosis in vivo. This technique was used during coronary bypass surgery. Two series of patients were treated: an initial group of 5 patients who underwent laser therapy associated with coronary bypass surgery; a second group undergoing laser therapy alone without distal bypass grafting. The results were assessed by immediate angiography in the first series and by the passage of calibrated probes in both series. Secondary control angiography after 3 weeks was carried out in all patients. The immediate results showed a constant improvement (less than 25%) in the degree of stenosis. However, secondary angiography showed secondary occlusion in 88% of cases. These preliminary results show: the immediate efficacy of Argon laser in reducing the size of atheromatous plaques, the innocuity of the method as there were no postoperative deaths, a high incidence of secondary failure which could be related to the type of indication (competitive flow in the first group and poor distal run off in the second group of patients) or to the type of laser used. The authors consider this to be a promising technique but a lot of clinical and experimental work remains to be done before it can be adopted for routine use.

[Role of thrombolytic treatment in thrombosis of valvular prostheses. Apropos of 2 cases and review of the world literature]. / Place du traitement thrombolytique dans les thromboses des prothèses valvulaires. A propos de 2 cas et revue de la littérature mondiale.

The authors report 2 cases of thrombolytic therapy by Urokinase at the dose of 4 500 U/kg/hour, for 24 hours, in patients with thrombosis of a Bjork aortic and Lillehei mitral valve prostheses, and assess the efficacy with a review of the world literature. The first case was a 65 year old woman who received a Bjork No 25 aortic valve prosthesis for aortic regurgitation. Two years later oral anti-vitamin K anticoagulants were replaced by an association of Aspirin-Persantine. She developed acute pulmonary oedema secondary to thrombosis of her valve during the fifth postoperative year. Treatment with Urokinase was successful (4 500 U/kg/hour for 24 hours). The second cases was a 33 year old woman who received a Lillehei No 27 mitral valve prosthesis for mitral regurgitation due to infective endocarditis. Six years later, during a period of apparently ineffective oral anticoagulation, she developed subacute pulmonary oedema due to thrombosis of her prosthesis. Urokinase therapy was successful after 4 hours, but the valve surface area on cardiac catheterisation was decreased and elective reoperation to change the prosthesis was decided upon. Prosthetic valve thrombosis is a serious complication with an operative mortality of 68.6% (35 deaths out of 51 reoperations in the worl literature) whilst the efficacy of thrombolytic therapy would appear to be about 80%. When thrombosis is progressive, the valve has to be changed surgically, but when it is secondary, thrombolytic therapy at least helps the patient survive the acute phase.

[Beta-adrenergic receptivity and left ventricular hypertrophy caused by pressure overload in man]. / Réceptivité bêta-adrénergique et hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche au cours de la surcharge barométrique humaine.

The effect of left ventricular chronic pressure overload on right atrial (RA) and left ventricular (LV) myocardial beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) density and subtypes ([I125] cyanopindolol binding), adenylate cyclase activity (AC) and ADP-pertussis toxin ribosylated proteins was investigated in 13 patients with aortic stenosis (AO) and compared with the results obtained in 10 patients with mitral stenosis (MI) taken as controls. None of the patients included had any impairement of systolic function or increased plasma catecholamine levels. The total number of beta-AR in RA (62 +/- 6 vs 77 +/- 12 fmoles/mg prot) and LV (39 +/- 7 vs 32 +/- 2 fmoles/mg prot) was similar in AO and in MI. The percentage of beta 1-AR was significantly lower in LV from AO (35 +/- 11 vs 73 +/- 5% in MI) but identical in RA (79 +/- 5 vs 73 +/- 8%). The basal activity of AC was similar in membranes from patients with AO (19 +/- 4 and 22 +/- 5 pmol.mg-1 prot in RA and LV) and in controls (21 +/- 6 and 27 +/- 3 pmol.mg-1 prot in RA and LV). Isoprenaline-induced stimulation of AC was significantly lower in LV membranes from patients with AO (7 +/- 6 vs 45 +/- 6% in MI) but remained identical in RA membranes (51 +/- 18 vs 36 +/- 18% in MI). The quantification of ADP-pertussis toxin ribosylated proteins indicated a lower substrate concentration in myocardial membranes from patients with AO when compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Atrial flutter: a possible early sign of acute rejection in heart transplantation. A case report]. / Le flutter atrial: un témoin précoce possible du rejet aigu chez le transplanté cardiaque. A propos d'une observation.

The authors report the case of a cardiac transplant patient with a recurrence of atrial flutter two months after electrical cardioversion and despite long-term preventive treatment with amiodarone. Early investigation for signs of rejection with 4 endomyocardial biopsies was negative. Aggravation of the haemodynamic status due to flutter with a rapid ventricular response led to an attempted radio-frequency ablation. Endocavitary mapping confirmed persistence of sinus activity in the native atrium and the presence of a circuit of type I isthmic flutter (anticlockwise circuit) in the donor atrium. Ablation by radio-frequency in the same procedure was successful. A fifth myocardial biopsy the same day finally confirmed stage 3A acute rejection. No signs of recurrent rejection or arrhythmia have been observed after 24 months' follow-up in this patient. This preliminary experience confirms the need to look for graft rejection by repeated myocardial biopsies in cardiac transplant, patients with atrial flutter and the efficacy of radio-frequency ablation in cases of resistance to conventional therapy.

[Aneurysm of the infrarenal abdominal aorta in octogenarians. Apropos of a series of 30 consecutive cases]. / L'anévrysme de l'aorte abdominale sous rénale chez l'octogénaire. A propos d'une série de 30 cas consécutifs.

UNLABELLED: The authors report a series of 30 operated consecutive infrarenal abdominal aneurysms on patients aged of 80 years old or more. The operation is necessary in emergency in 13 cases (43.3%): 10 patients with sudden severe abdominal pain and faintness and 3 with rupture. In 17 cases the indication of surgery is "elective" (56.7%): sole physical finding in 10 cases, one case of ureteral tract compression and 6 cases of recent pain. In 13 cases, the infrarenal aneurysm is associated with arterial occlusive disease. In 20% of the cases, the operation consists on aorto-aortic bypass graft; in the other cases, aorto iliac bypass is necessary; in 3 cases the distal implantation of the graft is on the groin, on the femoral artery. The hospital mortality is 20% of the cases (6 cases); after operation in emergency the mortality is higher (30.6%) than after elective surgery (11.7%). The mean of the late follow up is of 39 months (2 months to 9 years): the late mortality is 16.6% of the cases (5 cases). The actuarial percentage of survival at 4 years is 60%. CONCLUSION: The elderly is not a contraindication for surgical treatment of the infrarenal aortic aneurysm. The late survival rate is good after the operation.

[Indications and results of combined urokinase-lys plasminogen in acute ischemic pathology of the legs]. / Indications et résultats de l'association urokinase-lys plasminogène dans la pathologie ischémique aiguë des membres inférieurs.

Low dose urokinase-lys plasminogen was used to treat 10 patients with acute ischemia of lower limbs. Preliminary results are reported and indications defined, the combination producing effective relief and being very well tolerated biologically and clinically. All patients presented clear signs of ischemia provoking a short term risk for the limb. Direct femoral puncture arteriography of the ischemic limb was an essential pretreatment investigation. A thin catheter left in contact with the thrombus allowed localized fibrinolysis to be performed. Follow up arteriography examinations assessed clinicopathologic results, while biologic surveillance of principal coagulation parameters showed a lack of significant alterations during treatment. Ischemic signs were totally relieved in 7 cases, with arterial repermeabilization allowing recuperation of one (3 cases) or both (2 cases) distal pulses. Persistence of a popliteal thrombus in one case required a fogarty after a direct approach and the limb was saved. Two patients had to be amputated because of delayed treatment. These encouraging results suggest that this procedure of local thrombolysis be reserved for popliteal or infra-popliteal occlusions accompanied by sensory-motor signs and of recent (less than 72 hours) onset. Follow up for 8 months is insufficient but has shown the absence of deterioration, but this is obviously a function of the natural course of the underlying atheromatous disease.