ABSTRACT
The preoperative pulmonary arterial pressure of 38 patients aged over 50 undergoing surgical closure of a secundum atrial septal defect was studied. They were divided into three groups according to systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP): Group A (PAP<30mmHg, <i>n</i>=14), Group B (30≤PAP<50mmHg, <i>n</i>=16), and Group C (PAP≥50mmHg, <i>n</i>=8). The mean age of group C patients was older than that of group A patients. With higher PAP, the Pp/Ps, Rp/Rs and cardiothoracic ratios increased, atrial fibrillation and heart failure (NYHA≥2) were more frequent, and PaO<sub>2</sub> levels declined. There were no differences in left to right shunt ratio and Qp/Qs among the three groups. The PAP and Rp/Rs were under 70mmHg and 0.30, respectively in all patients. High pulmonary blood flow seems to be the cause of pulmonary hypertension in most elderly patients because PAP and Rp/Rs decreased after surgery in all groups. Findings of cardiomegaly and heart failure also improved after surgery. Surgical intervention is recommended even in elderly patients with a ASD.
ABSTRACT
Blood oxygen saturation, keton boby ratio and endotoxin concentration of arterial and hepatic venous blood were measured in 12 adult patients before, during and after extracorporeal circulation (ECC). When rectal temperature returned to 32°C during ECC, the levels of hepatic venous blood oxygen saturation (ShvO<sub>2</sub>) and arterial keton body ratio, hepatic venous keton body ratio decreased. The serum level of endotoxin concentration was within normal limits on the operative day and increased at the first and second day after surgery. In three patients in whom the level of ShvO<sub>2</sub> was under 50% at 60 minutes after ECC, postoperative liver dysfunction occurred frequently. Endotoxin changes on the first day after surgery is probably due to recovery differences between hepatic and gastrointestinal circulations.
ABSTRACT
Surgical interventions for aorto-iliac obstructive diseases were studied through the operative results. Eighteen patients underwent aorto-femeral bypass (AOF) and 23 who were over 70 years of age or who had serious preoperative complications had axillofemoral bypass (AXF). No perioperative death occurred in AOF patients, while the mortality rate of AXF patients was 8%. Postoperative ankle pressure indexes were significantly higher in AOF patients than in AXF patients. Follow-up graft patency rate was 100% in AOF patients at 54 months (mean), and 85% in AXF patients at 44 months respectively. AOF should be the first choice for patients with aorto-iliac obstructive disease, and AXF is suitable only for high-risk patients.
ABSTRACT
Out of 104 patients with perimembranous or infundibular-isolated ventricular septal defect (VSD), causative factors of Prol and AR, and the operative indication were studied in 17 with prolapse of the aortic cusp (Prol) and 10 with aortic valve regurgitation (AR). The left to right shunt ratio and the size of VSD were smaller in patients with Prol or AR than in those with the normal aortic cusp, suggesting that hemodynamics might take part in the cause of Prol or AR. Twenty-two patients underwent VSD closure only, four valvuloplasty and one aortic valve replacement. Residual AR was occurred in three out of ten patients. After surgery, AR was disappeared in six out of seven patients with the first grade preoperative AR, but AR remained in all two patients with the second grade preoperative AR. Careful preoperative observation and early operation before the appearance of AR are the important factors for avoiding residual regurgitation after aortic valvuloplasty.