The tissue viability imaging system-Suitable method for discovering minimal skin changes in occupational screenings? Results of a cross-sectional field study.

BACKGROUND: For early detection of initial skin changes in occupational screenings, only few objective assessment systems are available. OBJECTIVES: With the aim of assessing an objective measurement method for hand eczema, we trialed the application of the tissue viability imaging (TiVi) system, quantifying erythema non-invasively by polarized light spectroscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a field study with 625 employees of a semiconductor production company, 411 were exposed to prolonged wearing of occlusive gloves in the clean room. TiVi system and Hand Eczema Score for Occupational Screenings (HEROS), a quantitative skin score for the hands, were used, supplemented by a standardized personal interview. RESULTS: TiVi values of 65 up to 246 for each hand (palm or back), for each participant summed to overall 289 up to 848 (median 389), were measured. Higher TiVi values were noted for men, smokers, and with increasing age. Correlation between TiVi and HEROS was only weak. Several factors like skin pigmentation, thickness of the skin, or tattoos seem to influence TiVi results. CONCLUSIONS: The practical relevance of one-time measurements with the TiVi system in occupational screenings seems to be limited. Specifically, the TiVi system cannot replace dermatological examinations at the workplace. Notwithstanding, the application for other scientific purposes might be useful.

A randomized comparison of right ventricular function after on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular dysfunction occurs very soon after conventional coronary bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and might not recover within 1 year after the operation. It has been postulated that performing coronary surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass might preserve right ventricular function. We hypothesized that right ventricular global and overall systolic functions are better preserved 3 months after off-pump surgery than after conventional coronary bypass surgery. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for elective coronary bypass surgery were randomly assigned to conventional or off-pump surgery. Right ventricular function was assessed by means of transthoracic echocardiographic analysis the day before the operation and 3 months later. Right ventricular myocardial performance index was used as a marker of global right ventricular function, and right ventricular fractional area change was used as a marker of overall right ventricular systolic function. Peak systolic velocities of the lateral tricuspid annulus were studied to assess regional systolic function of the right ventricular free wall. RESULTS: Surgical intervention was completed according to randomization in 48 of 50 patients. Demographic and perioperative characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. Over the study period, right ventricular myocardial performance index and right ventricular fractional area change did not change in comparison with the baseline values in both groups. Peak systolic velocity of the lateral tricuspid annulus was decreased significantly in both groups 3 months after the operation. There were no significant intergroup differences in any echocardiographic marker of right ventricular function. CONCLUSIONS: Global right ventricular function was not better preserved 3 months after off-pump surgery than after conventional coronary bypass surgery.

Proteomics of ascending aortic aneurysm with bicuspid or tricuspid aortic valve.

Bicuspid aortic valve is often associated with lesions of the ascending aorta, which differ histologically from those in tricuspid valve patients. We undertook proteomic analyses to assess differences at the proteome level. Aortic samples were collected from 20 patients undergoing aortic valve and/or ascending aortic replacement; 9 had a bicuspid valve: 5 with aortic aneurysm (diameter > 50 mm) and 4 without dilation; 11 had a tricuspid valve: 6 with aortic aneurysm and 5 without dilation. Patients with histologically proven connective tissue disorders were excluded. Samples were dissected, solubilized, and subjected to 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Gel patterns showed an average of 580 protein spots in samples from bicuspid valve patients, and 564 spots in those with tricuspid valves. Comparative analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.93 for protein expression in the bicuspid valve group compared to the tricuspid group. Three protein spots were significantly over-expressed and 4 were significantly down-regulated in the bicuspid group compared to the tricuspid group. The lowest correlation in protein expression was between non-dilated aortic tissues. These differences between aortic tissues of bicuspid and tricuspid valve patients suggest that mechanisms of aortic dilation might differ, at least in part, between such patients.

Single-center outcome analysis of 1,161 patients with St. Jude medical and ATS open pivot mechanical heart valves.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The clinical performance of mechanical heart valves and valve-related complications are important safety endpoints in patients after heart valve replacement. In this retrospective analysis, the mid- to long-term clinical outcomes of two similar bileaflet heart valves, routinely implanted at the authors' institution over an 11-year period, were compared. METHODS: Between January 1993 and December 2003, a total of 1,161 patients (758 males, 403 females) received either a St. Jude Medical (SJM) or ATS mechanical heart valve. Follow up was obtained via an in-house Quality Management Database, ascertained by telephone questionnaire of the patients and/or family physicians. Follow up was 98.9% complete; the median follow up was 4.6 years; total follow up was 5,624 patient-years (pt-yr). RESULTS: A total of 604 SJM and 601 ATS prostheses was implanted as isolated (n = 669) or combined (n = 492) procedures. The overall 30-day mortality for SJM and ATS was 4.1% and 3.4%, respectively (p = 0.45). Cumulative survival and freedom from valve-related mortality at 10 years for SJM and ATS valves were 66 +/- 3% versus 68 +/- 5% (p = 0.84) and 96 +/- 1% versus 97 +/- 1% (p = 0.36), respectively. No structural valve failure was encountered for both valve types. Freedom from overall valve-related complications at 10 years was 79 +/- 4% for SJM and 66 +/- 6% for ATS (p = 0.08). The linearized rates for valve-related adverse events for SJM and ATS valves, respectively, were: thromboembolism 0.9 and 1.1%/pt-yr; major bleeding requiring transfusion 0.3 and 0.5%/pt-yr; prosthetic endocarditis 0.03 and 0.1%/pt-yr; paravalvular leak 0.1 and 0.6%/pt-yr. CONCLUSION: On the basis of an 11-year experience, both bileaflet valves showed very good clinical results, with low incidences of adverse events during the mid-term outcome. Gender and/or concomitant coronary artery disease were not predictors for reduced life expectancy.

Eleven-year single-center experience with the ATS Open Pivot Bileaflet heart valve.

BACKGROUND: The ATS Open Pivot Heart Valve was first introduced in 1992 and has been implanted routinely at our institution since 1993. Valve selection was based on surgeon preference. The objective of this study is to retrospectively analyze our 11-year clinical results with ATS prostheses. METHODS: Between January 1993 and December 2003, 601 ATS valves (393 aortic valve replacement [AVR], 168 mitral valve replacement [MVR], 20 aortic plus mitral valve replacement [DVR]) were implanted in 581 patients (377 male, 204 female; mean age, 63.7 years; range 18 to 89). Preoperatively, 47 (8%) were New York Heart Association class I, 212 (36.5%) were class II, 267 (46%) were class III, and 55 (9.5%) were class IV. Preoperative comorbidities were coronary artery disease, 167 (29%); diabetes mellitus, 72 (12%); cerebrovascular disease, 2 (0.3%); endocarditis, 53 (9%); and atrial fibrillation, 115 (20%). RESULTS: Follow-up is 99% complete. Data represent 2,500 cumulative patient-years. Mean follow-up is 4.3 +/- 2.6 years (range, 0.1 to 11.6). Overall hospital mortality is as follows: AVR, 3.8% (15 patients); MVR, 1.8% (3 patients); DVR, 10% (2 patients). Structural valve failure was not encountered. Overall survival at 10 years is AVR, 84.7% +/- 3.1%, AVR plus coronary artery bypass, 67.5% +/- 8.2%; MVR, 59.8% +/- 7.1%, MVR plus coronary artery bypass, 39% +/- 27.8%; and DVR, 74.3% +/- 10%. Freedom from valve-related death at 10 years is AVR, 99.2%; MVR, 94.6%; and DVR, 100%. Linearized rates for postoperative complications are paravalvular leak, 0.6% per patient-year; valve thrombosis, 0.04% per patient-year; thromboembolism, 1.1% per patient-year; major bleeding, 0.5% per patient-year; and de novo prosthesis endocarditis, 0.1% per patient-year. Postoperative mortality risk was significantly elevated by diabetes (p < 0.01), but not by other comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Our 11-year experience demonstrates low rates of adverse events and valve-related complications with the ATS Open Pivot heart valve.

Ischemia monitoring in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery using intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND: In off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, manipulations on the beating heart can lead to transient interruptions of myocardial oxygen supply, which can generate an accumulation of oxygen-dependent metabolites in coronary venous blood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy as a monitoring method to detect possible ischemic events in off-pump coronary artery bypass procedures. METHODS: In 15 elective patients undergoing off-pump myocardial revascularization, intravascular near-infrared spectroscopic analysis of coronary venous blood was performed. NIR signals were transferred through a fiberoptic catheter for signal emission and collection. For data analysis and processing, a miniature spectrophotometer with multivariate statistical package was used. Signal acquisition and analysis were performed before and after revascularization. Spectroscopic data were compared with hemodynamic parameters, electrocardiogram, transesophageal echocardiography and laboratory findings. RESULTS: A conversion to extracorporeal circulation was not necessary. The mean number of grafts per patient was 3.1 +/- 0.6. An intraoperative myocardial ischemia was not evident, as indicated by electrocardiogram and transesophageal echocardiography. Continuous spectroscopic analysis showed reproducible absorption spectra of coronary sinus blood. Due to uneventful intraoperative courses, clear ischemia-related changes could be detected in none of the patients. CONCLUSION: Our initial results show that intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy can reliably be used for an online intraoperative ischemia monitoring in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. However, the method has to be further evaluated and standardized to determine the role of spectroscopy in off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Effects of on-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery on right ventricular function.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular dysfunction is a possible cause of cardiac failure after coronary surgery. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass is regarded as a major cause for its occurrence, and it has been postulated that performing coronary surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass might reduce ventricular dysfunction. Therefore, this prospective, randomized, controlled study tested the hypothesis that off-pump coronary surgery would better preserve right ventricular systolic and diastolic function than conventional bypass surgery. METHODS: Fifty patients scheduled for elective coronary artery bypass surgery were randomly assigned to conventional or off-pump surgery. Right ventricular function was assessed by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography immediately before and after coronary surgery. Right ventricular ejection fraction was used as a marker of global systolic function and tricuspid early/late (atrial) ratio as a marker of the global diastolic function. Peak systolic and early diastolic velocities of the lateral tricuspid annulus were studied to assess systolic and diastolic function in the area of the right ventricular free wall. RESULTS: Surgery was completed according to randomization in 48 of 50 patients. Preoperative characteristics were similar in both groups. Intraoperative differences between the two groups included a higher volume of allogeneic blood transfusion in the conventional surgery group. At the end of surgery, global systolic right ventricular function was similarly maintained and diastolic function similarly impaired in both groups. There were no significant intergroup differences in any of the echocardiographic markers of right ventricular function. CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump surgery did not better preserve right ventricular systolic and diastolic function than did conventional coronary surgery.

OPCAB surgery after right pneumonectomy.

Coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in a 58-year-old patient 3 years after right pneumonectomy for nonsmall cell lung cancer stage IIIa. The CT scan demonstrated a marked shift of the mediastinum into the right chest, but revealed a feasible access to the left coronary artery by median sternotomy. Pulmonary function was impaired. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed to avoid cannulation under more difficult conditions and to prevent negative side effects of cardiopulmonary bypass to the pulmonary function. The postoperative recovery was uneventful. We discuss issues related to this special subgroup of patients.

Feasibility of intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy in off-pump myocardial revascularization.

OBJECTIVES: : The intravascular application of near-infrared spectroscopy was previously evaluated in acute ischemia-reperfusion studies in animal experiments. The objective of our study was to assess the technical feasibility and clinical reliability of an online myocardial ischemia monitoring by using intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy during off-pump coronary bypass surgery. METHODS: : Intravascular near-infrared spectroscopy of coronary sinus blood was performed in 10 elective patients selected for off-pump coronary bypass surgery. Light signals were transferred through a fiberoptic catheter for emission and collection from the coronary sinus blood. Spectrometric analyses were performed before and after revascularization with internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein grafts. Changes in spectroscopic data were compared with hemodynamic parameters and electrocardiographic, transesophageal echocardiographic, and laboratory findings. RESULTS: : All of the operations were finished as off-pump procedures. No remarkable intraoperative myocardial ischemia was observed in the patient group, as indicated by electrocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography. Reproducible absorption spectra of coronary sinus blood were obtained at every defined step of the surgical procedure. Clear ischemia-related changes were detected in none of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: : Our initial results showed that intravascular near-infrared spectroscopic ischemia monitoring is technically feasible. However, the method must be further evaluated and standardized under varying conditions to determine the role of near-infrared spectroscopy as an ischemia monitoring tool in off-pump coronary bypass surgery.

Predicting outcome after lung resection for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with neutropenia.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors that predict survival after lung resection for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with neutropenia, in order to assist the selection of patients who are most likely to have a successful outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective single-center study. SETTING: University hospital hemato-oncologic isolation unit and division of thoracic surgery. PATIENTS: Forty-one patients with hematologic disease and suspected IPA who underwent lung resection. INTERVENTIONS: Lobectomy (n = 23), wedge resection (n = 16), and enucleation (n = 2). RESULTS: Mortality within 30 days was 10% (4 of 41 patients). Major perioperative complications occurred in 10%. One death was possibly related to surgery (pleural aspergillosis). Of the patients with proven aspergillosis, 87.1% were cleared of infection, but fungal relapse occurred in 10%. Overall survival was 65% at 6 months, 58% at 12 months, and 40% at 5 years after surgery. Baseline characteristics and intraoperative data did not differ significantly between survivors and nonsurvivors at 6 months or 12 months after surgery. Perioperative complications did not significantly influence the outcome. Multivariate analysis of 12-month survival revealed that the variables, progression, or recurrence of the underlying hematologic disease (relative risk [RR], 4.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.51 to 5.77; p < 0.0001), fungal relapse (RR, 5.06; 95% CI, 3.83 to 6.28; p < 0.0001), and to a minor extent the type of the underlying hematologic disease (p < 0.018) were the most important predictors of patient survival. CONCLUSIONS: Lung resection for IPA is feasible with an acceptable operative risk. While at 10%, the perioperative mortality is considerable; the nonsurgical mortality is reported to be between 30% and 90%. Fungal infection is cleared in > 80% of patients. Mid- to long-term survival can be achieved if the underlying hematologic disease is under control. It is not yet possible to define a group of patients with IPA who are most likely to benefit from lung resection.

Transesophageal echocardiography for monitoring segmental wall motion during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

In this prospective, observational study, we evaluated whether transesophageal echocardiography allows for monitoring left ventricular segmental wall motion during cardiac displacement for off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. On the basis of a pilot study that showed frequent loss of transgastric views during OPCAB surgery, we analyzed only midesophageal views. The midesophageal 4-chamber view, 2-chamber view, and long-axis view were recorded in 60 patients after opening the chest and placing an epicardial stabilizer on the displaced heart. Using the 16-segment model, 2 echocardiographers independently performed offline analysis of segmental wall motion. The percentage of patients in whom >or=14 left ventricular segments were readable was calculated at baseline and after cardiac displacement and placement of an epicardial stabilizer. At baseline, >or=14 segments were readable in 59 (98%) of 60 patients. After cardiac displacement, >or=14 segments were readable during 58 (76%) of 76 revascularizations of the left anterior descending coronary artery (P < 0.01 versus baseline), during 33 (83%) of 40 revascularizations of the left circumflex coronary artery (P < 0.01 versus baseline), and during 29 (94%) of 31 revascularizations of the right coronary artery (not significant). We conclude that the number of readable segments decreased after cardiac displacement but that availability of >or=14 readable segments allowed for reliable monitoring of segmental wall motion in 4 of 5 patients during OPCAB surgery.

Doppler microembolic signals during cardiopulmonary bypass: comparison of two membrane oxygenators.

We undertook this study to evaluate the dependence of Doppler microembolic signal (MES) counts, detected during cardiopulmonary bypass, on the type of oxygenator used. A total of 90 patients, 71 men and 19 women, aged 60 +/- 10 years (mean +/- SD), undergoing elective cardiac surgery for coronary artery bypass grafting (one vessel, n = 6; two vessels, n = 24; three vessels, n = 33; four vessels, n = 9) or valve replacement (mitral valve, n = 2, aortic valve, n = 15, both valves, n = 1) were monitored with transcranial Doppler sonography during the complete surgical procedure. The surgical and anesthetic techniques were standardized in all patients, except for the type of membrane oxygenator used (COBE CML Duo, n = 55 or DIDECO D 703, n = 35). MES count was expressed as total number of MES detected in both middle cerebral arteries during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and also as total MES number divided by the CPB duration in minutes (MES min(-1)). No significant differences in patients' age or sex and type and duration of operation were noted between the two groups. MES incidence while the patients were on cardiopulmonary bypass was 100%. MES counts during CPB were 309 (236-502) and 143 (86-233) for DIDECO and COBE oxygenators, respectively (p < 0.00001). MES min(-1) were also significantly higher in patients operated with DIDECO, as compared to COBE oxygenators (3.7 (2.4-5.6) versus 1.5 (1-2.4), respectively, p < 0.0001). Inter-observer variability was satisfactory (k = 0.72). Use of a DIDECO D 703 oxygenator resulted in significantly higher MES counts as compared to the COBE CML Duo oxygenator. The clinical relevance of this finding remains to be determined.

Improved endothelial function after a modified harvesting technique of the internal thoracic artery.

OBJECTIVE: One of the most important factors in bypass surgery is the preservation of endothelial function in the arterial graft. It was of interest, therefore, whether a slightly modified preparation procedure during surgery could contribute to improved endothelial function of the graft. We compared the functional activity of internal thoracic arteries (ITA) prepared according to the traditional harvesting method with occlusion by a clip, dissection at the distal end and storage of the artery in papaverine until its implantation (CA) with the functional activity of arteries which were also prepared and wrapped in papaverine, but were left perfused and dissected immediately before their anastomoses (PA). METHODS: Samples of ITA were obtained from a total number of 28 patients, undergoing bypass surgery, and randomly distributed into two groups. The arteries were cut into rings and suspended in organ baths, containing Krebs-Henseleit solution, for isometric tension recording. Cumulative concentration response curves were determined for the contractile agents endothelin-1 (ET-1), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), noradrenaline (NA) and potassium chloride (KCl) and the relaxant compounds acetylcholine (ACH) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) during active tone induced by 30 mM KCl. RESULTS: ET-1 and 5-HT stimulated rings from both groups within the same concentration ranges but elicited significantly (P<0.05) higher contractile responses in CA compared to PA. By contrast, concentration response curves for KCl and NA where nearly superimposable. On the other hand, maximal endothelium-dependent relaxant responses to ACH proved to be significantly stronger in PA (0.84+/-0.20 g) as compared to CA (0.31+/-0.05 g, P<0.05) while endothelium independent relaxant responses to SNP where similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that leaving the ITA perfused during harvesting might improve considerably the endothelial function of the graft.