Comparison of two types of ulnar component in type-5 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a long-term follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to assess the long-term results (more than ten years) of two types of cemented ulnar component with type-5 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in a consecutive series of 56 patients (60 elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis, and to compare the results in elbows above and below a Larsen grade IV. There was no radiolucency around the humeral component. Patients in whom a metal-backed ulnar component and a porous-coated stem were used had better clinical results and significantly less progression of radiolucent line formation around the ulnar component. They also had a significantly better long-term survival than patients with an all-polyethylene ulnar component. The clinical results of arthroplasty using all-polyethylene ulnar components were inferior, regardless of the degree of joint destruction. We conclude that the type-5 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty with cementless fixation of the porous-coated humeral component and cemented fixation of a metal-backed ulnar component is acceptable and well-tolerated by rheumatoid patients.

Results after 24 years of prophylactic surgery for rheumatoid atlantoaxial subluxation.

We evaluated the use of surgical stabilisation for atlantoaxial subluxation after a follow-up of 24 years in 50 rheumatoid patients who had some degree of pain but no major neurological deficit. The mortality of patients treated by atlantoaxial fusion was significantly lower than for those who received conservative treatment. The deaths resulted from infection or comorbid conditions. The significantly high relative risks of mortality from conservative treatment compared with surgical treatment were mutilating disease and susceptible factors on both of the HLA-DRB1 alleles. Relief from pain and neurological and functional recovery were better, and the radiological degree of atlantoaxial translocation was less in those who were surgically treated compared with those who were not. Two patients had superficial local infections after surgery. We conclude that prophylactic atlantoaxial fusion is better than conservative treatment in these patients.

[An elderly case with impending myocardial infarction of endoventricular circular patch plasty with coronary artery bypass grafting].

An 81-year-old man with anterior impending re-myocardial infarction was urgently operated. Preoperative ECG and UCG examinations showed old myocardial infarction and LV aneurysm, respectively. We chose the Dor method (endoventricular circular patch plasty) and CABG aiming at early recovery from congestive heart failure. He fell into respiratory failure temporarily, but otherwise, the clinical course of this operation was good. He was discharged 47 days after the operation on foot. The Dor method combined with CABG is excellent way to relieve patients from congestive heart failure with LV aneurysm.

Effects of needle-arthroscopic lavage with different volumes of fluid on knee synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis.

To determine the appropriate volume of physiological fluid needed to effectively reduce synovitis and to determine the indications for intra-articular lavage of knee joints with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), intraarticular lavage with different volumes of physiological fluid via needle arthroscopy were performed on 102 rheumatoid knees in 98 patients (25 males, 77 females) with an average age of 46 years at the time of operation. Intra-articular lavage of a knee joint with 5 or 10 l of physiological fluid gave better clinical results than did intra-articular lavage with 0.5-1.5 l. There was no difference between the beneficial effects of intraarticular lavage using 5 1 or 10 l of fluid. The preoperative conditions (CRP, frequency of the susceptible factors of HLA-DRB1 alleles, radiological change in the knee joint) and the intraoperative chondroscopic assessments were correlated with clinical improvement. Our study demonstrated that intra-articular lavage with 5 l of physiological fluid performed using needle arthroscopy was beneficial. The following points at least should be checked before performing intra-articular lavage: (1) CRP is not elevated to a high level (> or =5 mg/dl), (2) the patient does not have susceptible factors in both HLA-DRB1 alleles, (3) the grade of rheumatoid knee is below Larsen II in preoperative X-ray findings, and (4) the degree of cartilage damage is not more than grade 3 in arthroscopic findings.

Immunohistological indication for arthroscopic synovectomy in rheumatoid knees: analysis of synovial samples obtained by needle arthroscopy.

To determine the histological indication for arthroscopic synovectomy in rheumatoid knees, 23 patients underwent lavage and biopsy by needle arthroscopy. Eighty-one patients were treated with arthroscopic knee synovectomy after needle arthroscopy, and 51 of these patients underwent only arthroscopic synovectomy. Thirty patients who showed no improvement following arthroscopic synovectomy underwent open surgical synovectomy. Intra-articular lavage of knee joints by needle arthroscopy did not result in any clinical improvements. In the patients who underwent only arthroscopic synovectomy, two groups (only macrophages, no macrophages or B cells) showed clinical improvement (symptoms of the knee, ESR, RF). Patients in whom open surgical synovectomy was performed because of the failure of arthroscopic synovectomy showed clinical improvement. However, there was a significant loss of movement in the knee joint and more severe radiological deterioration in patients who underwent open surgical synovectomy than in those who underwent only arthroscopic synovectomy. Arthroscopic synovectomy should be used for rheumatoid patients with synovial tissue containing only macrophages or none of these two cells.

Surgical repair of a concealed aortocaval fistula associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm: report of two cases.

Two cases of a concealed aortocaval fistula (ACF) associated with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are presented herein. ACF is a rare complication of AAA and only a few cases have so far shown the triad of symptoms, including congestive heart failure, a continuous abdominal bruit, and a pulsating abdominal mass. Sometimes a definite diagnosis is not made preoperatively and as a result, massive bleeding is encountered. We believe that the presence of a large aneurysm, compression, and involvement of the inferior vena by an aneurysm, and pelvic venous dilatation on abdominal computed tomography and hematuria may additionally suggest the presence of a concealed ACF. A correct preoperative diagnosis will help greatly in selecting the optimal surgical modality and should also reduce the degree of bleeding.

Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in the design of total elbow prostheses over the last two decades have led to better and more consistent results. The type-3 Kudo total elbow prosthesis was developed in 1980. The long-term results of use of this implant have not been reported. Because it is an unlinked prosthesis, it is not known whether preservation of the anterior oblique component of the ulnar collateral ligament at the time of implantation is important. METHODS: A type-3 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty with cement was performed in forty-seven patients (fifty elbows) with rheumatoid arthritis. Revision rates, clinical symptoms, postoperative complications, and radiographic changes were assessed eleven to sixteen years (mean, thirteen years) postoperatively. RESULTS: The overall survival rate of the prosthesis was 90% at sixteen years. The mean Mayo elbow performance scores were all poor (mean overall score, 43 points) initially. The overall score was substantially improved at both the intermediate follow-up examination (four to six years after the operation) and the late follow-up examination (eleven to sixteen years after the operation), to 81 and 77 points, respectively. The overall rate of radiolucency about the humeral component was 45% at the intermediate follow-up examination and 100% at the long-term follow-up examination. The rate of radiolucency about the ulnar component at the intermediate and late follow-up examinations was 4.3% and 8.9%, respectively. No great differences in results were found with preservation of the anterior oblique component of the ulnar collateral ligament. CONCLUSIONS: This long-term follow-up study showed acceptable results of the type-3 Kudo total elbow arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Preservation of the ulnar collateral ligament does not seem to be necessary when performing this procedure.

Timing of the administration of tranexamic acid for maximum reduction in blood loss in arthroplasty of the knee.

We studied 99 patients who were undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to determine the optimum protocol for the administration of tranexamic acid (TNA) in order to reduce blood loss. It decreased by more than 40% after the administration of TNA. The haemostatic effect was greatest when TNA was given preoperatively and on deflation of the tourniquet. There was no increase in the incidence of adverse affects in the patients receiving TNA, compared with a control group. We conclude that two injections of TNA, one given preoperatively and one on deflation of the tourniquet, significantly reduce blood loss without increasing the risk of thromboembolic complications.

The efficacy of intra-articular analgesia after total knee arthroplasty in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in patients with osteoarthritis.

The pain relief provided by intra-articular injection of morphine plus bupivacaine after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) plus partial synovectomy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was compared with pain relief after TKA alone in patients with osteoarthritis. There were lower pain scores, a much smaller requirement for systemic analgesics, longer duration until the first requirement of systemic analgesics, and improvement in the range of motion of the knee joint in the patients who received intra-articular injection of analgesics. There was more pronounced postoperative analgesia in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in the patients with osteoarthritis in the study groups that received intra-articular injection of analgesics.

The relationship between plasma concentration of mature adrenomedullin and jugular venous oxygen saturation during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.

UNLABELLED: Adrenomedullin (AM), a vasodilatory peptide, increases during cardiac surgery. However, the physiological role of AM during cardiac surgery remains unclear. AM dilates cerebral arterioles and increases cerebral blood flow in rats. Therefore, we investigated whether AM is related to cerebral oxygen balance during cardiac surgery. In nine patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafts, plasma concentrations of mature AM from the radial artery (mAMa) and jugular bulb (mAMj) were measured, and jugular venous oxygen saturation was obtained before surgery (baseline), before aortic cross-clamp (preclamp), after aortic declamp (postclamp), and 20 min after weaning from the cardiopulmonary bypass (post-CPB). Plasma concentrations of mAMa and mAMj were significantly increased at postclamp (P < 0.01 for both) and post-CPB (P < 0.01 for both) compared with baseline values. SjO(2) correlated with plasma mAMj concentrations at preclamp (r = 0.79, P < 0.01), postclamp (r = 0.71, P < 0.05), and post-CPB (r = 0.72, P < 0.05), as well as with mAMa concentrations at preclamp (r = 0.79, P < 0.01) and postclamp (r = 0.72, P < 0.05). This suggests a relationship between AM and cerebral oxygen balance during cardiac surgery. IMPLICATIONS: Plasma concentrations of mature-form adrenomedullin, a vasodilatory peptide, was correlated with jugular venous oxygen saturation during cardiac surgery. This suggests a relationship between adrenomedullin and cerebral oxygen balance during cardiac surgery.

Predictors of rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have monoarthritis in a knee joint.

Abstract To determine the predictive factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 79 patients (11 men, 68 women; average age at onset of symptoms 37.1 years) with fixed joint effusion of one knee joint, of minimum 6 months' duration, were divided into three groups: group I, 11 patients (14%) who progressed to RA; group II, 8 patients (10%) with the correct diagnosis, except that RA became apparent during the subsequent follow-up; group III, 60 patients (76%) whose joint effusion resolved. In group I, the degree of joint effusion and the serological values of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IgG-RF, and rheumatoid factor (RF) tended to be higher than those in the other groups at the time of our initial examination. The synovial fluid concentrations of IL-1ß and IgG-RF in group I were significantly higher than those in the other groups. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-determined stage and histological assessment of synovial inflammation also tended to be higher in group I than in the other groups. This study revealed that it might be possible to predict the outcome of cases of monoarthritis by examining IL-1ß and IgG-RF levels in the synovial fluid, in addition to various elevated inflammation signs in the knee joint.

[The effect of pump flow on cerebral oxygen metabolism during cardiopulmonary bypass].

We evaluated effects of pump flow on cerebral metabolism using transcranial Doppler (TCD) during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in 22 adult patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. All the patients were anesthetized with high dose fentanyl. The pump flow was controlled with non-pulsatile roller pump at 2.2-2.5 L/min/m2 in group L and 2.7-3.0 L/min/m2 in group H under alpha-stat acid-base regulation. Pharyngeal temperature was kept at 31 degrees C in steady CPB state. Mean velocity of middle cerebral artery (MCAV) was monitored with TCD fixed on the temple continuously. Cerebral oxygen consumption was estimated by relating the difference in oxygen content between arterial and venous (jugular bulb) blood (AVDO2) to flow velocity. In group L, blood oxygen saturation of jugular bulb (SjO2) was stable during hypothermic period, but decreased significantly during rewarming period. In group H, SjO2 was significantly increased with cooling, but went down to preoperative level during rewarming period. Significant difference of SjO2 between two groups was noticed in rewarming period (52.9 +/- 10.0% in group L and 65.6 +/- 11.8% in group H, p = 0.0133). MCAV tended to decrease with cooling and increase with rewarming, but which was not significant change respectively. Relative cerebral metabolic rate for oxygen (rCMRO2) was defined as the percent change of the product AVDO2 and MCAV. In each group, rCMRO2 was decreased with cooling and increased with rewarming significantly. Especially, rCMRO2 right after CPB discontinued was increased 1.7 times in L group and 2.0 times in group H as much as that of steady state of CPB. It is suggested that cerebral metabolism should be decreased during cooling to 31 degrees C of pharyngeal temperature, 2.2-2.5 l/min/m2 of pump flow was adequate to keep SjO2 stable. On the other hand, it is necessary to increase pump flow to 2.7-3.0 l/min/m2 during rewarming period as cerebral oxygen metabolic demand becomes greater.

[Cerebral oxygen desaturation during rewarming in retrograde cerebral perfusion with total circulatory arrest].

To evaluate cerebral oxygen desaturation during retrograde cerebral perfusion with total circulatory arrest (RCP), we measured cerebral oxygen extraction (O2 Ext), and arterio-venous oxygen differences (AV DO2) during and after RCP and compared the results with usual cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using continuous jugular blood saturation (SjO2) monitoring. In the RCP group, 7 patients underwent aortic arch replacement with RCP and in the CPB group, 4 patients underwent valvular surgery with CPB. A 5.5 Fr oximetric catheter was placed in the jugular bulb and cerebral venous and radial arterial blood were sampled. Oxygen partial pressure and saturation were measured at six intervals from cerebral venous and radial arterial blood. Measurements were taken at the following phases: phase I: before ECC was established, phase II: immediately after ECC started; phase III: at hypothermia (18 degrees C in the RCP group and 28 degrees C in the CPB group), phase IV: during rewarming (30 degrees C), phase V: after rewarming (36 degrees C), phase IV: immediately after weaning from ECC. All 11 patients survived without neurological complications. The minimum SjO2 of continuous monitoring during rewarming in the RCP group was significantly lower than in the CPB group. AVDO2 in the RCP group was also significantly higher than in the CPB group during rewarming. O2 Ext in the RCP group was significantly higher than in the CPB group during and after rewarming. Differences in glucose utilization during and after rewarming were also detected. Moreover, to determine factors that influence SjO2 during and after rewarming, we evaluated correlations with arterial PaCO2, arterial pH, and rewarming duration. There were significant (p < 0.05) correlations between SjO2 and PaCO2 in phase IV and phase V, between SjO2 and pH, and between SjO2 and rewarming duration. In conclusion, continuous SjO2 measurements reflected cerebral oxygen desaturation during and after rewarming in RCP. In RCP, significantly greater desaturation during and after rewarming was detected than in CPB. Therefore we suggest that relatively slow rewarming, higher PaCO2, and more acidic pH strategies were advantageous for preventing desaturation during and after rewarming in RCP.

[Successful graft replacement of a thoracic aortic aneurysm in a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome].

We have experienced graft replacement of a thoracic aortic aneurysm in a 42-year-old man with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. The patient received graft replacement of the abdominal aortic aneurysm 1 year before this thoracic operation but had no abnormality in his outside appearance. Thoracic CT scan revealed a thoracic aortic aneurysm of 80 mm in maximal diameter. We performed a graft replacement of the thoracic aorta from the ascending aorta to the proximal descending thoracic aorta using deep hypothermia and retrograde cerebral perfusion. The aortic wall was so thin that we used Teflon felt for reinforcement of graft anastomosis at the outside wall of the aortic stump. Type III collagen stain of the resected aortic wall showed deficiency of type III collage, which was consistent with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (type IV). Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient returned to his ordinary life.

[A case report of prosthetic valve replacement for malfunction of the Hancock valve in mitral position associated with recurrent peptic ulcer and renal dysfunction].

A 62-year-old woman was admitted with malfunction of the Hancock valve in mitral position. She had been suffering from gastroduodenal ulcer for about ten years. She couldn't take warfarin after 5 years later of the initial operation due to recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. Judging from her age and renal dysfunction, we preferred mechanical valve to avoid the risks for the reoperation. After confirming the healed ulcer with administering omeprazole, we performed prosthetic valve replacement with SJM 29 M successfully. Postoperative course was uneventful and recurrence of the ulcer was not observed.

[A case report of bentall type operation for annuloaortic ectasia with anomalous origin of the right coronary artery complicated by aortic dissection].

A 49-year-old woman of Marfan's syndrome, who had undergone replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta for Stanford B type aortic dissection at 47 years of age, developed Stanford A type aortic dissection with annulo-aortic ectasia and aortic regurgitation. At the time of operation, anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva and near site of the left coronary orifice were found. Then, composite graft replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic valve, in which a single graft of 16 mm in diameter was interposed between the coronary ostia and composite graft, was performed. Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left sinus of Valsalva is a rare congenital abnormality. It is a matter how to reconstruct the coronary circulation for this type of operation. This technique was useful to reconstruct the aortic root even when an anomalous origin of the coronary artery existed.

[A case of mitral regurgitation due to partial papillary muscle rupture whose etiology was unknown].

The etiology of the papillary muscle rupture includes myocardial infarction, trauma, hypertension, myxomatous degeneration, endocarditis etc. We report a case of partial papillary muscle rupture whose etiology was unknown, in a 77-year-old woman. The preoperative catheterization and coronary angiography showed severe mitral regurgitation and no significant coronary stenosis. And we recognized the mass waving into the left atrium in systole with the echocardiogram. At surgery, we repaired the mitral valve by resecting quadrangular areas of the posterior leaflet including the attachment of the torn papillary muscle. Additionally a number 28 Carpentier-Edwards mitral annuloplasty ring was sewn in place. In pathologic specimen, there were focal fibrosis, necrotic muscle, lymphocytes, and no vegetation.

Long-term results of aortic valve translocation for mycotic periannular abscess: comparative study of Danielson's original method and our threadless method.

Between June, 1983, and October, 1992, we performed Danielson's original translocation method in four patients (group I) and our translocation method in seven patients (group II), for the treatment of active periannular abscess. There were no perioperative or hospital deaths in either group. The long-term results of these two groups are compared in this report. There were four late deaths (mortality rate 100%) in group I, and three late deaths (mortality rate 43%) in group II. The causes of death were cardiac in six patients and noncardiac in one patient. Vein graft failure occurred in one group I patient (25%) and in two group II patients (28%). Rupture or aortic pseudoaneurysm formation occurred in three group I patients (75%). These findings suggest that our threadless method may be superior to Danielson's original translocation method. Therefore, with close observation, especially of saphenons vein great (SVG) failure, arterial graft use could be acceptable for translocation.

[Transcranial Doppler measurement of middle cerebral artery blood flow during continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion].

This is the first report of cerebral blood flow measurement with transcranial Doppler (TCD) during aortic arch reconstruction using continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion (CRCP) with deep hypothermia. Cerebral blood flow velocity was measured in 6 patients. CRCP was performed via the superior vena cava (SVC) at 30 cmH2O of internal juglar vein pressure and at 18 degrees C or lower of minimum bladder temperature. During the operation, the flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) was continuously measured with TCD fixed on the temple. The cerebral blood flow during CRCP was different in each of the 6 patient. The retrograde MCA flow could be measured during CRCP in 3 patients, and the flow velocity was 11-60% of the MCA flow velocity before cardiopulmonary bypass. In the other 3 patients, retrograde MCA flow could not be detected during CRCP, but antegrade MCA flow could be found after antegrade perfusion was resumed. The antegrade flow velocity right after CRCP became more than the MCA flow before CRCP, which was regarded as a reaction due to cerebral ischemia. All the patients awoke within several (2-9) hours after operations and had no permanent neurological complications. But 2 patients developed drowsiness for several days after the operations; their CRCP times were 127 and 131 minutes. It is concluded that CRCP is a simple technique for brain protection, but the cerebral blood flow during CRCP is a simple technique for brain protection, but the cerebral blood flow during CRCP is different in each patient.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)