Combined pre- and post-capillary pulmonary hypertension in left heart disease.

Patients with heart failure (HF) often have pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is mainly post-capillary; however, some of them also develop a pre-capillary component. The exact mechanisms leading to combined pre- and post-capillary PH are not yet clear, but the phenomenon seems to start from a passive transmission of increased pressure from the left heart to the lungs, and then continues with the remodeling of both the alveolar and vascular components through different pathways. More importantly, it is not yet clear which patients are predisposed to develop the disease. These patients have some characteristics similar to those with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (e.g., young age and frequent incidence in female gender), but they share cardiovascular risk factors with patients with HF (e.g., obesity and diabetes), with both reduced and preserved ejection fraction. Thanks to echocardiography parameters and newly introduced scores, more tools are available to distinguish between idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension and combined PH and to guide patients' management. It may be hypothesized to treat patients in whom the pre-capillary component is predominant with specific therapies such as those for idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension; however, no adequately powered trials of PH-specific treatment are available in combined PH. Early evidence of clinical benefit has been proven in some trials on phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, while data on prostacyclin analogues, endothelin-1 receptor antagonists, and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators are still controversial.

Clinical utility of postmortem microcomputed tomography of the fetal heart: diagnostic imaging vs macroscopic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: Congenital cardiac malformations are commonly identified at perinatal autopsy, which can be challenging in fetuses of early gestation and in macerated fetuses. Our objective was to examine fetal complex congenital heart disease by microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), using standard autopsy as the gold standard. METHODS: In this ethically approved study, ex-vivo isolated fetal heart and fetal heart-lung blocks underwent iodine preparation prior to micro-CT, and were fixed in formalin after the micro-CT examination. Images were acquired using a microfocus-CT scanner with individual specimen image optimization. Twenty-one indices assessed normally at autopsy were evaluated for each dataset. Cardiac dissection was performed using a dissecting microscope within 24 h of the micro-CT examination. RESULTS: We examined six fetal hearts, comprising five with complex congenital cardiac malformations at a gestational age of 17-23 weeks and an anatomically normal heart of 23 weeks' gestation for reference. All specimens demonstrated excellent internal contrast at micro-CT examination, and the correct overall diagnosis was made in all cases. There was agreement for 114/126 indices assessed on micro-CT and at autopsy dissection (overall concordance of 95.8% (95% CI, 90.5-98.2%)). Micro-CT was particularly useful in the assessment of ventricular morphology in macerated fetuses. CONCLUSIONS: Micro-CT of small ex-vivo fetal specimens can provide highly accurate three-dimensional rendering of complex congenital fetal heart disease. This approach represents a significant advance in postmortem imaging and confirms the potential of this technology for non-invasive examination of small fetuses and organs.

Postmortem microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) of small fetuses and hearts.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and utility of contrast-enhanced microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) for identifying structural anomalies in ex-vivo first- and second-trimester human fetuses and isolated fetal hearts. METHODS: Radiopaque iodine staining and micro-CT scanning protocols were first developed in rodent studies and then used to examine routinely fixed whole human fetuses (n = 7, weight 0.1-90 g, gestational age, 7-17 weeks) and isolated fetal hearts (n = 14, weight 0.1-5.2 g, gestational age, 11-22 weeks). Samples were scanned using an isotropic resolution of 18 (and, if necessary, 9 or 35) µm and findings were interpreted jointly by four fetal pathologists, a fetal cardiologist and a radiologist. Samples with gestational ages ≥ 13 weeks also underwent conventional autopsy or dissection. RESULTS: Micro-CT identified all anatomical structures and abnormalities documented by the macroscopic examination. In all seven cases involving fetuses ≤ 13 weeks (four fetuses, three isolated hearts), micro-CT excluded the presence of structural anomalies. In the remaining 14 cases, it provided all the information obtained with invasive autopsy or dissection and in seven of the 14 (two fetuses, five isolated hearts) it furnished additional diagnostic details. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study confirms the feasibility of postmortem contrast-enhanced micro-CT assessment of structural anomalies in whole small fetuses and fetal hearts. Further study is needed to confirm our findings, particularly in whole fetuses, and to define the extent to which this virtual examination might be used instead of conventional invasive autopsy.

Fetal echocardiography at 11-13 weeks by transabdominal high-frequency ultrasound.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of fetal echocardiography at 11-13 weeks performed by well-trained obstetricians using a high-frequency linear ultrasound transducer. METHODS: Fetal echocardiography was performed by obstetricians immediately before chorionic villus sampling for fetal karyotyping at 11-13 weeks. Digital videoclips of the examination stored by the obstetrician were reviewed offline by a specialist fetal cardiologist. RESULTS: The obstetrician suspected 95 (95%) of the 100 cardiac defects identified by the fetal cardiologist and made the correct diagnosis in 84 (84%) of these cases. In 54 fetuses, the defect was classified as major and in 46 it was minor. In 767 (86.6%) cases, the heart was normal and in 19 (2.1%) the views were inadequate for assessment of normality or abnormality. A subsequent second-trimester scan in the normal group identified major cardiac defects in four cases. Therefore, the first-trimester scan by the obstetricians and cardiologists identified 54 (93.1%) of the 58 major cardiac defects. CONCLUSIONS: A well-trained obstetrician using high-resolution ultrasound equipment can assess the fetal heart at 11-13 weeks with a high degree of accuracy.

Reliability of the first-trimester cardiac scan by ultrasound-trained obstetricians with high-frequency transabdominal probes in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency.

OBJECTIVE: To examine prospectively the reliability of ultrasound-trained obstetricians performing a first-trimester fetal cardiac scan with high-frequency transabdominal probes, by confirming normal or abnormal heart anatomy, in pregnancies referred for increased nuchal translucency thickness (NT). METHODS: Trained obstetric operators assessed the fetal heart in 133 fetuses with increased NT (> 95th centile) at 11-14 weeks of gestation. A high-frequency transabdominal probe was used to confirm or refute normal cardiac anatomy rather than to establish a specific diagnosis. Following this preliminary screening by the ultrasound-trained obstetrician, specialized fetal echocardiographers rescanned the fetal heart in order to confirm the accuracy of the obstetric operators' findings and to establish a diagnosis in abnormal cases. Fetal cardiologists repeated the examinations at 20 and 32 weeks of pregnancy. Postnatal follow-up lasted 2 years. Twelve fetuses with normal karyotype and normal anatomy were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 121 fetuses with increased NT between 11 and 14 weeks' gestation were studied. Congenital heart disease (CHD) was detected in 20/121 (16.5%) fetuses. In addition, there were three with mild ventricular disproportion, the right ventricle being larger than the left, considered as a minor non-specific cardiac abnormality. CHD was associated with chromosomal anomalies in 12/20 (60%) cases. Among the 121 fetuses, there was agreement between ultrasound-trained obstetricians and fetal cardiologists in 116 (95.9%) of the cases, and the ultrasound-trained obstetricians correctly identified 18 cases with major cardiac defects. However, there was disagreement in five cases: two with small ventricular septal defects and three with ventricular disproportion. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that obstetricians, trained to study the heart in the second trimester, can also differentiate reliably between normal and abnormal heart findings in the first trimester, when using a high-frequency transabdominal ultrasound probe.

Fetal echocardiography at the time of the nuchal translucency scan.

OBJECTIVE: The fetal heart is not studied routinely in the first trimester because of technical and time limitations. Our aim was to assess the feasibility of performing a fetal cardiac study in pregnancies referred for nuchal translucency (NT) screening, using high-frequency linear transabdominal transducers with a specific ultrasound preset. METHODS: A single trained operator assessed the fetal heart in pregnancies with a fetal crown-rump length (CRL) of 60-84 mm that had been referred for NT screening. A 15- or 6-MHz transabdominal linear transducer with a specific preset suitable mainly for color-flow mapping was used to confirm or refute normal cardiac anatomy rather than to establish a specific diagnosis. Fetuses having an increased risk for congenital heart disease were referred to a tertiary center for a further examination within 1 week. This group consisted of all fetuses with NT > 95(th) centile and those in which a family history or the initial heart scan increased the risk. RESULTS: A total of 608 fetuses with a median CRL of 65 mm was examined between 2003 and 2005. A cardiac scan was performed successfully in 456 (75%) using a 15-MHz linear transducer alone, and the additional use of a 6-MHz transducer allowed diagnostic images to be obtained in a further 152. Normal cardiac anatomy was assessed confidently within 10 min in 517/608 (85%) pregnancies; in 85 (14%) a longer time was needed and six patients were rescheduled within 2 weeks because of non-diagnostic images at the initial scan. In 571/608 (94%) the risk for congenital heart disease (CHD) was not increased and the heart was considered normal at initial echocardiography; this was confirmed by later scans and at postnatal follow-up. In 37/608 (6%) fetuses the risk for CHD was increased (35 for NT > 95(th) centile and two for family history). In this group normal heart anatomy was described in 34 fetuses and confirmed by subsequent specialist echocardiography. Cardiac defects were suspected in three fetuses (all with increased NT) and confirmed by a fetal cardiologist in each case. CONCLUSIONS: A trained operator can perform a fetal heart study during the NT screening test using transabdominal high-resolution transducers in an acceptable length of time.

First metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis for treatment of hallux rigidus: a retrospective study.

This was a retrospective study of 17 patients (21 operated feet) treated with first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis for hallux rigidus of varying severity levels. Patients were evaluated according to a modified American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society hallux metatarsophalangeal-interphalangeal rating scale containing 60 subjective and 30 objective points. At an average follow-up time of 28.1 months, patients demonstrated a mean subjective improvement from 21.2 to 47.8/60, with mean total scores improving from 39.1 to 75.6/90. A comparison of pre- and postoperative radiographic angular measurements demonstrated a significant improvement (p = .001) in intermetatarsal, first metatarsal declination, and lateral talo-first metatarsal angles. Significant positive correlations were found between subjective results and patient age (p = .05) and the preoperative lateral talo-first metatarsal angles (p = .001).

Treatment of congenital convex pes valgus with navicular excision and subtalar arthroereisis: a case study.

This article presents a case study of a 4-year-old female with a delayed diagnosis of congenital convex pes valgus. The severe soft-tissue contractures and osseous abnormalities in this case necessitated excision of the navicular and subtalar arthroereisis in addition to standard soft-tissue releases in order to achieve and maintain adequate reduction. A review of the literature and a discussion of these adjunctive techniques is provided to examine the concepts relevant to treatment of this condition.

External constant tension expansion of soft tissue for the treatment of ulceration of the foot and ankle.

A clinical series of the management of 74 lesions in the foot and ankle region in 67 patients using a constant tension-approximating device is presented. The technical aspects of this methodology are detailed as they have been developed over the past 4 years. The indications, contraindications, and the requirements to obtain a successful result are discussed. The differences, as well as the possible advantages over other mechanical devices used in wound management, are discussed. The incidence and degree of complications are considered to be minimal when compared to both flap procedures and internal expansion technologies.

Necrotizing fasciitis in the lower extremity: a review and case presentation.

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but potentially fatal disease which is often confused with cellulitis. By examining the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, treatment, and a representative case study, this article proposes to lend a broader perspective to this infection. Emphasis is placed on the necessity of surgical debridement in combination with antibiotic therapy to minimize the possible morbidity associated with this condition.

Isolated fusions of the hindfoot.

Increasingly, isolated arthrodeses are being used to successfully manage disorders of the hindfoot. Their relative simplicity makes these procedures an attractive alternative to the triple arthrodesis. Each joint fusion is not without certain pitfalls, and issues such as the location of the pain, origin, planal dominance, and multiple joint involvement must be taken into consideration when choosing a specific procedure. With proper patient selection and careful technique, the surgeon will find these procedures provide a valuable addition to his/her armamentarium.

Modified arthroscopic excision of the symptomatic os trigonum and release of the flexor hallucis longus tendon: operative technique and case study.

This article presents an operative technique for modified arthroscopic excision of the symptomatic os trigonum and release of the flexor hallucis longus tendon sheath. The procedure uses two stacked posterolateral subtalar joint portals, rather than the customary anterolateral and posterolateral portal combination. By visualizing the os trigonum with an arthroscope positioned in a distal portal and introducing instrumentation through a proximal portal, the ossicle may be quickly exposed and excised with minimal dissection. A case study with a 22-month follow-up and a discussion of os trigonum syndrome are included to illustrate this procedure as an alternative to open excision or traditional arthroscopic excision.

Talonavicular joint arthrodesis and Evans calcaneal osteotomy for treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combination of talonavicular fusion and Evans calcaneal osteotomy for the treatment of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction. This was a retrospective study of 10 patients, mean age 48.7 years, who had continued pain despite 6 months of conservative treatment and a minimum Johnson and Strom stage II deformity. Patients completed a detailed questionnaire, were physically examined, and their postoperative improvement was graded according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Ankle-Hindfoot Rating Scale. At a mean of 35 months (range 8-72 months) after surgery, patients demonstrated a significant improvement (p<.001) both in their subjective discomfort and in the structural alignment and function of their feet. The authors feel that this combination of procedures allows greater correction and stability than either procedure performed alone, and provides a viable alternative to triple arthrodesis.

Three select subungual pathologies: subungual exostosis, subungual osteochondroma, and subungual hematoma.

Special attention has been given to the differences between subungual exostosis and subungual osteochondroma. Once a diagnosis has been made and symptoms persist, complete excision of the lesion with curettage of the base is the treatment of choice for both conditions. Subungual hematoma is an exquisitely painful condition that usually results from trauma, but may also be caused by systemic pathology, medication and drug reactions, and aging. Prompt decompression will significantly reduce pain and further damage to the nail bed and matrix. Radiographs must be taken because of the high incidence of associated distal phalangeal fracture. Patients must be warned that onycholysis, transient and permanent nail deformity, and infection are possible complications, even with the best treatment.

Stress fracture of the tarsal navicular: two unusual case reports.

Stress fractures of the tarsal navicular are an uncommon entity in podiatric and orthopedic literature, being reported only 40 times. These cases were usually in the younger, active patient population. The cases reported in this paper were older individuals that were inactive. Both cases were originally misdiagnosed, but later shown to be stress fractures, one being the only hypertrophic nonunion recorded to date. The authors believe the stress-fractured navicular is often misdiagnosed, and probably more common than recently reported.