Subdiaphragmatic implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator generator.

Despite several improvements in the surgical technique and in the technologic design of cardioverter defibrillators made over the past years, abdominal placement of the generator device, done as Mirowski did it in his first implantation performed in 1980, remains the widely used method. Although smaller defibrillators are available, they remain bulky and are a source of local complications. To prevent such complications and to enhance patient comfort, we performed a subdiaphragmatic implantation in 31 patients.

[Current role of intra-aortic diastolic balloon counterpulsation in heart surgery]. / Place actuelle de la contrepulsion diastolique par ballonnet intra-aortique en chirurgie cardiaque.

Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) is a relatively non-invasive method of circulating assistance, easy to use and which has benefitted from a number of technological improvements in recent years. This retrospective study over 4 years was undertaken to analyse the results of IABP and to determine its role in therapeutic arsenal against cardiac failure. Sixty five patients, 57 coronary and 8 valvular cases, with an average age of 61 +/- 10 years were included. The indications of IABP were: a bridge to transplantation (3 cases), complications of coronary angioplasty (4 cases), and low cardiac output after cardiopulmonary bypass (58 cases), where IABP was curative in 85% of cases and prophylactic in 15% of cases (patients with risk factors of low output state after CPB). Beforehand, 65% of patients had poor left ventricular function (LVEF < 40% and/or CI < 2.2 l/mn/m2). An Aries Medical M700 console was used. The percutaneous femoral approach was feasible in 87% of cases. The results were: improvement with discharge from intensive care unit in 60% of cases, transient improvement in 7% of cases, no improvement in 15% of cases and cardiac transplantation in 8% of cases. The outcome was worse when the preoperative LV function was poor and when high dose inotropic agents had to be used. Survival was 100% in those patients in whom IABP was a prophylactic measure. The average duration of IABP was 72 hours, survival being significantly lower in those in whom IABP was continued for over 3 days. The complications (12.7%) were thromboembolic.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Interposition of a prosthetic graft between the ascending aorta and the abdominal aorta in the treatment of complicated or longstanding coarctations in adults]. / Interposition d'un greffon prothétique entre l'aorte ascendante et l'aorte abdominale dans le traitement des coarctations de l'adulte compliquées ou vieillies.

Although the direct approach to the aortic isthmus is unquestionable for an isolated coarctation of the thoracic aorta, recurrent coarctations of coarctation with associated cardiac lesions require a concomitant procedure, raise difficult surgical problems and expose to a high operative risk. Another technique consists of performing an ascending aorta-abdominal aorta by-pass, with a prosthetic tube. From 1977 to 1988, this technique was performed in 8 patients: 3 with recurrent coarctations, 4 with coarctation associated with a surgical aortic insufficiency (2 ascending aortic aneurysms with aortic insufficiency) and 1 with abdominal aorta coarctation. The mean age was 48.3 years (range from 31 to 72 years), the mean follow-up was 44.3 months (range from 4 months to 10 years 5 months). There was no mortality and no morbidity during the follow-up. The functional result is good, without high blood pressure and with no blood pressure difference between the arms and the legs. Postoperative angiographies showed that all the by-passed were patent.

[Retrospective study of 412 aortic valve replacements by Bjork-Shiley prosthesis implanted between January 1972 and October 1984. Actuarial survival, mortality, complications]. / Etude rétrospective de 412 remplacements valvulaires aortiques par prothèse de Bjork-Shiley implantées entre janvier 1972 et octobre 1984. Survie actuarielle, mortalité, complications.

Between January 1972 and October 1984, 412 aortic valve replacements by Bjork-Shiley disk prosthesis were performed. 183 patients suffered from aortic incompetence, 132 from an aortic disease and 97 from aortic stenosis. 116 associated procedures (28%) were performed = 36 myocardial revascularizations, 61 Bentall operations, 12 patch grafts to the ascending aorta and 7 Wheat operations. The mean age was 53.6 years and 25% of the patients were over the age of 65 years. Fifty percent of the patients had stage III or IV disease according to the NYHA classification. The cardiac index was less than 2.3 l/min/m2 in 44.26% of cases. The early postoperative mortality was 4.85% and 20% of these deaths were related to the prosthesis. The late mortality was 17.25%, with 20% of deaths related to the valve. The mean follow-up 59.75 +/- 2 months (range: 1 to 166 months) with a cumulative survival of 2.092 patients-years. It was significantly influence by the existence of preoperative angina, another operation associated with AVR and a cardiac index less than 2.3 l/min/m2. Seventy-one complications were related to the prosthesis including dysfunction (0.05% patient-year), 3 valve thromboses (0.15% patient-year), 6 infected valves (0.31% patient-year), 12 cases of peri-prosthetic dehiscence (0.61% patient-year), 10 embolic complications (0.61% patient-year) and 37 complications related to anticoagulants, including 26 major complications (1.48% patient-year). The valve failure rate was 1.19% patient-year. The results of our series are comparable to those reported in the literature, which confirm the reliability of the Bjork-Shiley Valve.

[Plasma concentrations of diltiazem and its metabolites in coronary surgery: relation with preoperative treatment]. / Concentrations plasmatiques du diltiazem et de ses métabolites en chirugie coronarienne: relation avec le traitement préopératoire.

Preoperative oral administration of calcium channel blocking agents has been found ineffective to prevent perioperative myocardial ischaemia. Our hypothesis was that low plasma concentrations may account for this inefficiency. Twenty-three male patients, scheduled for surgical myocardial revascularisation, were administered their usual anti-anginal treatment, including 180 to 360 mg of diltiazem since more than one week. The usual dosage was given at 8.00 p.m. on the day before surgery. On the morning of surgery, after withdrawal of a first blood sample, 60 mg of diltiazem were administered per month before the induction of anaesthesia. The anaesthesia was obtained with fentanyl, midazolam or flunitrazepam, pancuronium and isoflurane as required. The cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was associated with total haemodilution with Ringer's Lactate and a membrane oxygenator. A second blood sample was withdrawn after CPB. Plasma concentrations of diltiazem and its two active metabolites, N-monodemethyldiltiazem (MA) and desacetyldiltiazem (M1), were assessed by HPLC. Plasma diltiazem concentrations decreased from 78 +/- 66 (mean +/- SD) to 51 +/- 42 micrograms.l-1 (p < 0.05) with wide individual variations. These concentrations were under therapeutic levels in 18 out of 23 patients before (p < 0.05) with wide individual variations. These concentrations were under therapeutic levels in 18 out of 23 patients before induction and in 22 patients after CPB. The metabolite/diltiazem ratios remained constant. A dosage-plasma concentration relationship was observed preoperatively with diltiazem and MA. It is concluded that plasma concentrations of diltiazem should be optimized preoperatively in order to prevent myocardial ischaemia.

[Anesthesia with flunitrazepam/fentanyl in the severe coronary patient. Hemodynamic study]. / Anesthésie par flunitrazépam/fentanyl chez le coronarien sévère. Etude hémodynamique.

Twenty three patients on class 3 or 4 NYHA were anesthetized with flunitrazepam 30 micrograms/kg. fentanyl 20 micrograms/kg, N2O for coronary bypass surgery. Hemodynamics data before and after induction reveal a 30% fall of cardiac index with stability of systolic vascular resistance. This higher value refer to literature on flunitrazepam. The clinical association with N2O and fentanyl can explain negatively inotropic effect. The bad ventricular function of this patients is probably the cause of a underestimate vascular filling.

[Traumatic rupture of the isthmic aorta: analysis of 22 recent cases]. / Ruptures traumatiques de l'isthme de l'aorte: analyse de 22 cas récents.

This study is an analysis of the cases of acute traumatic rupture of the aorta treated in our hospital between 1987 and 1993. Recent progress concern especially the role of computed tomography and transoesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and the confirmation of the benefit of mechanical circulatory support in the treatment. Immediate surgery in all the cases is not yet the rule. Delayed surgical repair can be feasible in cases of severe and multiple associated lesions.

[Is it necessary to discontinue captopril before heart surgery?]. / Faut-il arrêter le captopril avant l'opération en chirurgie cardiaque?

Interaction between kininase II and anaesthesia is not well described. Twenty two patients treated by kininase II for congestive heart failure are studied during anaesthesia for cardiovascular surgery. A first group of seventeen homogeneous hemodynamic data are reported. High cardiac index contrasts with severe clinical cardiac failure. A second group of inhomogeneous patients are separately described. Vasoconstrictor can be codified in the situation of low systemic resistance with high cardiac index. Preoperative treatment can be continued, under requirement of hemodynamic monitoring.

Relationship between preoperative amiodarone treatment and complications observed during anaesthesia for valvular cardiac surgery.

Two groups of ASA physical status class III and IV patients undergoing cardiac surgery were reviewed in an attempt to obtain more conclusive data concerning dangerous interactions between amiodarone and anaesthesia. The amiodarone group (Group 1, ten patients, cumulative dose 10 g) was compared with a control group (nine patients, Group 2). Amiodarone (A) and desethylamiodarone (NA) concentrations in plasma and myocardium were measured and haemodynamic and antiarrhythmic effects were analysed. Throughout anaesthesia haemodynamic status was similar in both groups. No correlation was found between A/NA and cardiac index changes. No patients needed intraaortic blood pressure augmentation or developed low systemic vascular resistances. Pacemaker dependency was similar in both groups and there was no evidence of increased anaesthetic risk. An excellent antiarrhythmic effect was obtained during the postoperative period. We conclude that preoperative treatment with amiodarone is effective against postoperative arrhythmias.