[Indications of lung transplantation: Patients selection, timing of listing, and choice of procedure]. / Indications de la transplantation pulmonaire : sélection des candidats, critères d'inscription en liste d'attente, choix du type d'intervention.

Lung transplantation (LT) is now considered as an excellent treatment option for selected patients with end-stage pulmonary diseases, such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. The 2 goals of LT are to provide a survival benefit and to improve quality of life. The 3-step decision process leading to LT is discussed in this review. The first step is the selection of candidates, which requires a careful examination in order to check absolute and relative contraindications. The second step is the timing of listing for LT; it requires the knowledge of disease-specific prognostic factors available in international guidelines, and discussed in this paper. The third step is the choice of procedure: indications of heart-lung, single-lung, and bilateral-lung transplantation are described. In conclusion, this document provides guidelines to help pulmonologists in the referral and selection processes of candidates for transplantation in order to optimize the outcome of LT.

Use of the Abiomed BVS System 5000 as a bridge to cardiac transplantation.

The Abiomed BVS System 5000 (Abiomed Cardiovascular, Inc., Danvers, Mass.) is a gravity-filled, pneumatically driven external prosthetic ventricle that has been implanted as a circulatory support device in six patients 9 to 58 years of age, presenting with a refractory heart failure nonamenable to any type of corrective operation. Three (including a 9-year-old girl) had an end-stage nonobstructive myocardiopathy, and two (including one patient who had had a massive recent myocardial infarction) had an ischemic heart disease. When first seen, the 58-year-old patient had an acute rejection and graft failure occurring 2 months after a first transplantation. All patients showed evidence of a low-output state (cardiac index less than 1.5 L/min/m2), with renal failure (mean urinary output, less than 27 ml/min) and hypoxia (mean arterial oxygen pressure = 56 torr under 80% forced inspiratory oxygen), despite maximum pharmacologic support (dobutamine, 16 to 18 gamma/kg/min; dopamine, 3 to 18 gamma/kg/min; adrenaline, 0.2 to 0.7 gamma/kg/min; furosemide, 7 to 17 gamma/kg/min). The device was implanted through a midline sternotomy and under peripheral normothermic bypass. Five patients received a biventricular support, and one a single left prosthetic ventricle. The cannulation included a right-angled cannula in both the left and right atrium and a suture of the arterial Dacron tubes onto the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery. After careful deairing of the tubing and ventricles, the console was activated and the bypass progressively discontinued. Heparin infusion was begun 3 hours after chest closure and was continued for the duration of assist pumping, which was 2 to 11 days (mean duration, 7.43 days). The system could provide a complete support of the circulation with both right and left ventricular index remaining stable at 2.4 to 3 L/min/m2. After a dramatic improvement at the time of the system activation, the urinary output remained adequate, thus allowing for a decreasing need for diuretic therapy. In two cases, including one of isolated left ventricular assist pumping, the circulation could be totally supported during 11 hours and 23 hours, respectively, of refractory ventricular tachycardia. Four of six patients were shortly weaned from inotropic agents. Hematologic studies showed a moderate decrease of the coagulation factors level during the first 6 hours of circulatory support, and this remained stable and within normal limits thereafter. There have been three cases of bleeding complications necessitating surgical revision on the sixth hour, the twelfth hour, and the sixth day, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effects of hypothermia on cochlear micromechanical properties in humans.

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the influence of hypothermia on transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs) in humans. Hypothermic alterations were brought about directly by cooling the cardiovascular system of young children during open heart bypass surgery. This condition caused TEOAE levels to decrease with a significant positive correlation between total and frequency band TEOAE amplitudes during cooling. TEOAEs were totally abolished at tympanic temperatures around 30 degrees C, without it being possible to find differences in TEOAE alteration among the frequency components. During rewarming, the changes reversed and TEOAEs returned to their initial prehypothermia status, although sometimes only partially. Despite large possible metabolic changes caused by this hypothermic condition at various levels, it is concluded that the motile properties of outer hair cells (OHCs), that are related to TEOAEs, are temperature-sensitive. The total suppression found in deep hypothermia (above 30 degrees C) could conceivably be attributable to a process involving a temperature-dependent energy source.

Intracardiac air clearing in valvular surgery guided by transesophageal echocardiography.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Air embolism during open heart surgery seems to be a common occurrence and may be responsible for neuropsychological deficit or myocardial damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients undergoing valvular surgery were studied using the long axis view of the heart by two dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The patients were randomized into two groups of 21 each. In group 1, the routine air evacuation method was used. In group 2, the same air evacuation method was used and controlled with a Doppler ultrasonic probe adjusted around the root of the aorta. At the end of air evacuation, intracardiac microbubbles and retained air were analyzed with TEE and when air was founded, its location was communicated to the surgeons who tried to remove it by shaking the heart and tilting the operating table for 15 minutes. The patients were assessed for detection of cardiac or neurological postoperative complications. RESULTS: The incidences of microbubbles and retained air were 57% and 43% in group 1, and 62% and 38% in group 2 respectively (ns). The mean grade of microbubbles was lower in group 2: 1.4 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.9, p < 0.05. TEE allowed to significantly decrease (p < 0.05) retained air and mean grade of microbubbles to 14% and 1.3 +/- 0.8 in group 1, and to 10% and 0.8 +/- 0.8 in group 2, without statistical difference between the two groups. Despite the help of TEE, manual attempts to eradicate retained air were unsuccessful in five patients (three in group 1, two in group 2). CONCLUSIONS: The use of aortic ultrasonic probe allowed to reduce the amount of microbubbles. TEE was a useful tool not only for the detection of retained air but also for locating it, and guiding the procedure to eliminate it.

Long-term results of heart transplantation deteriorate more rapidly in patients over 60 years of age.

It is generally agreed that the upper age limit for heart transplantation is 60 years. However, an increasing number of elderly candidates are accepted for heart transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed our experience with a total of 204 consecutive transplantations, performed in 195 adult patients (9 retransplantations) between March 1987 and September 1993. There were 48 patients older than 60 years (mean 62.9 +/- 3), group I (gr I) and 156 patients between 20 and 59 years old (mean 47.5 +/- 8), group II (gr II). The two groups were matched for sex-ratio (female 10.4 vs 14.2%), indications (cardiomyopathy, ischemic, others), and hemodynamic parameters (pulmonary artery pressure, capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index). A ventricular assist device was used in 14 patients as bridge to transplantation in gr II vs 0 to gr I. There were seven early deaths in gr I (14.6%) vs 14 in gr II (8.97%, NS). A total of 183 survivors (41 vs 142) have been followed up for 1 month-6.3 years (mean follow-up 20.4 +/- 19.3 months in gr I, 35.4 +/- 23 in gr II). No patient was lost to follow-up. There were 11 late deaths in gr I vs 16 in gr II. The most common cause was malignancy (n = 4) in gr I and sudden death (n = 9) in gr II, with a significant difference. The actuarial survival was 68.8% in gr I vs 88.5% in gr II at 1 year 43.5% in gr I vs 76.4% in gr II at 5 years. In conclusion, transplanted patients over 60 years of age have a significantly poorer late survival than younger patients, despite similar good early results. Moreover, the causes of late deaths were different in the two groups. So, heart transplantation in patients over 60 years of age should be carefully considered.

[Results of coronary surgery in patients over 70 years of age]. / Résultats de la chirurgie coronaire après 70 ans.

Among the 628 consecutive patients who underwent coronary bypasses performed by the same surgical group between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 1987, 71 (11 p. 100) were aged 70 years or more (mean: 72.5 years; range: 70-83 years). 99 p. 100 of the patients had a history of severe, disabling exertional angina (46 p. 100) or unstable angina (52 p. 100) of 55 months' duration on average; 35 patients (49 p. 100) had already experienced myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography showed a one-vessel disease in 1 case, a two-vessel disease in 1 case, a two-vessel disease in 31 cases and a three-vessel disease in 39 cases; 11 patients (15 p. 100) had stenosis of the left main coronary artery. The ventricular function was considered unaltered in 59 cases (83 p. 100). Altogether, 155 bypasses, including 25 internal mammary grafts, were performed, i.e. an average of 2.2 bypasses per patient. There was only one early (21st day) post-operative death. The post-operative period was uneventful in 57 patients (60 p. 100); 9 developed peri-operative necrosis. Seventy patients have been followed up for a mean period of 24 months: there were 3 late deaths of non-cardiac origin; 60 patients (84.5 p. 100) are now asymptomatic and 3 (4.5 p. 100) are suffering from residual angina. Early mortality excluded, the cumulative probability of survival at 5 years is 94 p. 100.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Causes of failure analysis after cardiac transplantation. From a consecutive series of 91 cases]. / Analyse des causes d'échec après transplantation cardiaque. D'après une série consécutive de 91 cas.

Ninety-three cardiac transplantations were carried out in 91 patients (2 retransplantations) between March 1st 1987 and November 1st 1989, in 84 adults and 7 children under 15 years of age. The indications were dilated cardiomyopathy (48%), ischemic cardiomyopathy (35%), decompensated valvular heart disease (11%), congenital heart disease (3%) and two cases of Uhl's anomaly. Twelve patients underwent transplantation after external circulatory assistance (13%), 11 patients after inscription on the list of extreme emergencies, and 68 on an elective basis (74%). The postoperative immunosuppressive protocol was triple therapy: Ciclosporine, Azathioprine and Prednisone. Three of the children died. The early adult mortality was 9 cases (10.7%). It was 8% in patients operated electively. Major infectious complications occurred in 10 patients (11%). Rejection was looked for by systematic endomyocardial biopsy and echocardiography. Three hundred and forty-nine biopsies were made. Thirty-five patients (44%) had no problems of rejection. Seventy-nine patients have now been followed up for an average of 19 months. There were 7 late deaths. Seventy seven per cent of the survivors are asymptomatic. Acute rejection and transplant dysfunction were the two main causes of early mortality after cardiac transplantation. Although the long-term prognosis is uncertain, the medium-term results are very encouraging.

[Aortic valve replacement using the Björk-Shiley valve. Long-term results (268 patients)]. / Remplacement valvulaire aortique par prothèse de Bjork-Shiley. Résultats à long terme (268 patients).

From 1974 till November, 1986, 268 adult patients aged from 15 to 84 years (11 p. cent over 70) underwent isolated aortic valve replacement by Björk-Shiley prosthesis. 81 p. cent of the prosthetic valves implanted were size 21 or over. The initial lesion was aortic stenosis (AS) in 40 p. cent, aortic regurgitation (AR) in 35 p. cent and aortic disease (AD) in 25 p. cent of the cases. The aortic valve lesions were degenerative (46 p. cent), rheumatismal (18 p. cent), congenital (12 p. cent), infective (19 p. cent including acute infective endocarditis) or dystrophic (7 p. cent) in origin. Pre-operatively, 54 p. cent of the patients were in NYHA functional class III and 14 p. cent in NYHA functional class IV. 7 p. cent presented with permanent atrial fibrillation. Mean pre-operative cardiac index was 2.49 1/mn/m2. Peri-operative mortality (up to 30 days) was 7.09 p. cent in both the 1974-79 period and the 1980-86 period; it was 3.4 p. cent in AS, 7.4 p. cent in AD and 10.7 p. cent in AR. The 249 survivors were followed up for a mean period of 5.3 years, or 1313 patient-years. 30 patients (11 p. cent) died subsequently (11 of prosthesis-related cause), giving an actuarial survival rate of 81.7 p. cent at 5 years and 71.4 p. cent at 10 years. 12 patients were reoperated upon, including 2 for prosthesis-related reasons (2.4 p. cent patient-years).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Results of repair in 50 infants]. / Retour veineux pulmonaire anormal total. Résultats de la correction chez 50 nourrissons.

Fifty infants with isolated total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) were operated between 1/01/73 and 31/12/87. The average weight at surgery, which was performed under hypothermia with circulatory arrest in 92 per cent of cases, was 4.5 Kg. The preoperative pulmonary to systemic pressure ratios (PAP/PS) enabled identification of two groups of patients: Group I: TAPVC without severe pulmonary hypertension (PAP/PS less than 0.85) (n = 35), and Group II: TAPVC with severe pulmonary hypertension (PAP/PS greater than 0.55) (n = 15). The hospital mortality was 22 per cent (8 cases) in Group I compared with 73 per cent (11 cases) in Group II (p less than 0.05). Patients in Group II were younger (64 days compared with 137 days, p less than 0.02), lighter (p less than 0.05) and had preoperative mean pulmonary artery systolic pressures of 83 mmHg (p greater than 0.001). Three patients in Group I required early reoperation for stenosis of the pulmonary veins at the site of repair resulting in pulmonary hypertension, and all died. The global survival was 28 patients with an average follow-up of 7 years (range 1 to 15 years). Six of these patients were reoperated (2 phrenoplications, 4 atrial shunts). All survivors are asymptomatic and have no conduction defects. Control echocardiography in 15 of the 28 survivors was judged to be normal. These results show that obstructive forms of TAPVC (Group II) carry a very poor prognosis: immediate results in this group could only be improved by earlier surgery. The clinical long-term results in those who survive surgery are very satisfactory.

[Treatment of ventriculo-pulmonary disconnections with prosthetic conduits. Long-term results]. / Traitement des discontinuités ventriculo-pulmonaires par utilisation d'un tube valvulé. Résultats à long terme.

Between 1973 and 1989, 81 consecutive patients aged 2 to 42 years old, with ventriculo-pulmonary discontinuity, were treated by implantation of prosthetic conduits. The initial pathology was Tetralogy of Fallot (33%), complete transposition of the great arteries (20%), truncus arteriosus (17%), double outlet right ventricle (17%) and atrioventricular discordance with L malposition of the great arteries (10%). The overall early mortality was 22% (18 cases) and 14% (5 cases) in the 36 patients operated after 1982. Sixty three patients were followed up for 3 months to 16 years; there were 8 late deaths which occurred spontaneously or at reoperation. Postoperative catheterisation was carried out in 33 cases; the average ventriculopulmonary systolic pressure gradient was 40 +/- 26 mmHg. Six patients were reoperated to change the conduit, on average 6 years +/- 23 months after the first operation. Five other patients underwent endoluminal dilatation of a stenosed conduit which delayed reoperation to change the conduit in 3 cases. Prosthetic conduits have been extensively used in patients with ventriculo-pulmonary discontinuity because they are readily available. However, because of progressive degradation of the prostheses between the 5th and 10th postoperative years, other therapeutic solutions should be considered, i.e. endoventricular repair when possible and, in other cases, the use of aortic homografts.

[Assisted circulation by external heterotopic prosthesis as a bridge to heart transplantation]. / Assistance circulatoire en attente de transplantation cardiaque par prothèse hétérotopique externe.

Eleven patients aged 7 to 58 years were placed on assisted circulation with Pierce (2 cases) or Abiomed (9 cases) external prosthetic ventricles as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. The indications were terminal cardiac failure following cardiomyopathy (7 cases), decompensated ischemic heart disease (3 cases) and subacute post-transplantation rejection (1 case). The duration of the assisted circulation ranged from 24 hours to 11 days. All patients were transplanted but 3 died after transplantation (27%). The circulatory assistance was satisfactory in all patients as shown by the regression of clinical signs of low cardiac output and the normalisation of diuresis. The complications observed during assisted circulation and after cardiac transplantation were: haemorrhage (36%), infection (27%) and thromboembolism (9%). These preliminary results with a 72% post-transplantation survival rate, show that both systems are effective "bridges to cardiac transplantation". The Abiomen device is excellent value for money and relatively simple to install and represents a good compromise between the sophisticated techniques of circulatory assistance and the problems of the cost of health care.

[Surgical treatment of complete atrioventricular canal. Value of the "composite double patch" technic]. / Traitement chirurgical des canaux atrio-ventriculaires complets. Intérêt de la technique de la "double pièce composite".

Between January 1, 1982 and January 1, 1988, 49 complete corrections of complete atrioventricular canal were performed in children aged from 4 months to 8 years. 41 were infants less than 2 years' old and 31 were less than one year old. In the last 35 patients the "composite double patch" technique was used, consisting of closure of the interventricular septal defect with a dacron patch, followed by closure of the ostium primum with a pericardial patch. The mitral cleft was left intact in the last 6 operations. The overall mortality rate was 35 p. 100 (17 patients). It was 23 p. 100 in infants under 1 year and 17 p. 100 in infants aged from 6 to 12 months at the time of surgery (p less than 0.01). Seven of the 35 children in whom the "composite double patch" technique was used died (20 p. 100). Only one early death was recorded among the last 15 children operated upon. Two reoperations were performed: one within one month of the first operation, the other 4 months later for residual mitral regurgitation with haemolysis. 32 children were followed up for periods of 2 months to 6 years, 10 of them for more than 3 years. Two late deaths occurred during the follow-up. Grade 2 or 3/4 residual regurgitation was found in 14 patients who have regular clinical and echocardiographic examinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[To understand blood pressure and heart rate variability]. / Comprendre la variabilité de la pression artérielle et de la fréquence cardiaque.

OBJECTIVES: To review current data on the heart rate and blood pressure variability. DATA SOURCES: Search through Medline databases of articles in french or english. DATA SELECTION: Original articles and case reports were selected according to their quality and main advances. The articles were analysed in order to obtain current data about the methods of study and clinical application of blood pressure and heart rate variability. DATA SYNTHESIS: Various regulatory systems in the cardiovascular system play crucial roles in controlling and assuring adequate perfusion of the peripheral tissues. Among them the baroreceptor reflex is the most important regulatory mechanism in the short-term control of the heart rate and blood pressure, and operates through the autonomic nervous system. The gain of the cardiac baroreflex further referred to, as baroreflex sensitivity is an interesting way to study this system. Unfortunately, with our current knowledge, it is not possible to predict the instantaneous output of the baroreceptor in response to instantaneous changes in input within a frequency range of physiological importance. The fast Fourier transform can describe variables as the sum of elementary oscillatory components and it has been established as practical clinical methods for detecting abnormalities in cardiovascular control. A time-frequency distribution provides an indication of how the spectral energy distribution varies with time and it is an interesting tool in non-stationary data. One of the major motivations behind spectral analysis is the hope that the combination of time-domain and frequency-domain analyses will provide dynamical informations about the relation between blood pressure and heart rate.

[Technic for implanting biventricular external assistance devices. Pending cardiac transplantation]. / Technique d'implantation des procédés d'assistance biventriculaire externe. En attente de transplantation cardiaque.

The extensive development of orthotopic heart transplantation results in a relative shortage of grafts. When cardiac grafts are unavailable, some patients at the end-stage of decompensated heart failure may benefit from a biventricular external circulatory assistance device as a "bridge" to transplantation. We describe a reproducible technique for the implantation of such external devices, based on the systematic use of extracorporeal circulation. This technique was tested in 8 patients. Its main advantage is that it prevents thromboembolic complications which are a constant threat when the devices are used for a prolonged period.

[Peroperative ultrafiltration in complete repair of ventricular septal defect in infants]. / Ultrafiltration peropératoire lors de la correction complète de communication interventriculaire du nourrisson.

Ventricular septal defect in infants induces peroperative fluid overload (particularly extravascular lung water overload) which causes some morbidity after surgical closure of the defect. Thirty infants undergoing the conventional complete correction procedure were retrospectively compared with 32 infants operated upon using ultrafiltration at the end of the cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no difference between the two groups in biological data, haemodynamic parameters and either morbidity or mortality. Nevertheless, a clinical impression of smooth follow-up in patients with ultrafiltration encourages to carry out a prospective and randomized study.

[Pulmonary hypertension: the role of nitric oxide in adults]. / Hipertensión pulmonar: el papel del óxido nítrico en adultos.

The human body releases endogenous nitric oxide (NO) from three main sources: neurons, inflammatory processes (induced NO) and endothelium. The chemical industry produces NO by reacting sulfur dioxide and nitric acid, or sodium nitrite and sulfuric acid, or by oxidation of ammonia. Inhaled NO acts on smooth muscle cells of the pulmonary endothelium, causing relaxation by stimulation of guanylate-cyclase. The short half life of NO and its immediate breakdown into hemodynamically inactive but toxic metabolites make this drug a selective pulmonary vasodilator that can decrease pulmonary arterial pressure, improving right ventricular ejection fraction while decreasing intrapulmonary shunt and improving oxygenation.NO has demonstrated its usefulness in treating right ventricular failure secondary to pulmonary hypertension after heart surgery, especially in the transplanted patient. Doses have usually ranged from 5 to 20 parts per million. However, great individual variability in response to NO has been reported. Between 30 and 40% of patients do not respond to treatment. NO is also used to assess the reversibility of chronic pulmonary hypertension in patients who are candidates for heart transplants. Other uses have been suggested, such as reversion of pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by protamine. Applications are limited by the toxicity of metabolites and by route of administration.

[Anaesthetic approach of paediatric pulmonary hypertension]. / Anesthésie et hypertension artérielle pulmonaire chez l'enfant en chirurgie non cardiaque.

Paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a challenge for the paediatric anaesthetist. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, support should be provided by a dedicated team. Understanding the pathophysiology of PAH allows performing an appropriate therapeutic approach. In case of high vascular pulmonary resistance, the main objectives of anaesthetic management are to maintain an optimal pulmonary flow and to avoid the decrease in systemic arterial pressure. Haemodynamic monitoring is essential to detect the onset of an acute PAH crisis but also to give direct information on the efficacy of treatment.

[Venous air emboli in a 4 year old child]. / Embolie gazeuse d'origine veineuse chez un enfant.

A 4 year old girl is referred to our institution for resection of a nephroblastoma with an extension of the tumor into the lumen of the inferior vena cava. To perform a correct resection of the tumor, the operation was conducted under cardiopulmonary bypass. At the end of the procedure, a bilateral mydriasis was noticed. A CT-scan concluded to a massive venous air emboli. As the procedure was unventful, and no other cause of air emboli was found, the etiology of this emboli is problably retrograde because of the large opening of the inferior vena cava that was required to remove the tumor. To avoid similar case the use of transcranial doppler monitoring may be of interest.

[How can we optimize medical orderings in intensive care unit (ICU)?]. / Optimisation des prescriptions en réanimation.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether intensivists would accept to optimize their orderings of biological samplings, x-rays and target drugs and to assess the consequence on patient's outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Monocentric evaluation of medical economic procedure. METHODS: Meetings of consultants, registrars and residents started on Dec 21, 2006 with two to three sessions a year in order to evaluate the process of medical ordering. The physicians and pharmacists gave the results of orderings at each meeting. Orderings of systematic samplings, bedside x-rays and unjustified expansive drugs were discouraged, but target samplings and lung ultrasonography were encouraged. New residents were systematically taught about this programme. Meanwhile, monthly morbidity-mortality meetings were pursued in order to assess the consequences of this politics. RESULTS: While ICU total production increased by 3.4% and potentially evitable deaths decreased by 34%, annual expenses decreased by approximatively € 777,000 from 2006 to 2008. This was due to decreased orderings in biology by 30%, bedside x-rays by 10%, computed tomographic scans by 16% and target drugs by 35%. However, an increased ordering in four target drugs was observed in 2008 as compared with 2007. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary optimization of medical ordering can be efficient in ICU. However, a profit-sharing with ordering physicians would be necessary to prolong these effects.