Implantation of left ventricular epicardial leads in cardiosurgical patients with impaired cardiac function--a worthwhile procedure in concomitant surgical interventions?

BACKGROUND: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) by means of multisite biventricular pacing is an effective therapeutic option for the treatment of severe heart failure. The present study estimates how many open heart-surgery patients could benefit from the implantation of permanent left ventricular (LV) pacing leads. After routine preoperative screening, epicardial electrodes were implanted in selected patients. Lead performance and outcomes were investigated. METHODS: Primarily, 1059 patients were retrospectively investigated with regard to LV function, left bundle branch block and QRS duration. Afterwards, suitable patients were identified and epicardial electrodes [Medtronic 5071 (ME) or Enpath (EP)] were implanted during concomitant procedures. Mean follow-up time was 6.3 ± 5.5 months. RESULTS: The retrospective study showed that 24 patients (2.3%) could potentially profit from CRT. After routine preoperative screening for CRT-responders, 22 patients (1.6%) were identified who finally received epicardial leads. No complications occurred. Acute capture threshold was 0.9 ± 0.4 V (ME, n = 17) and 0.5 ± 0.2 V (EP, n = 5). While leads in 18 patients were implanted as an upgrade to an existing pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) technologies (Group B), 4 patients underwent prophylactic implantation with no device attached (Group A). CRT-ICDs were implanted at follow-up in 3 Group A patients (75%). In Group B patients, the QRS duration decreased (from 189 ± 35 ms to 152 ± 16 ms, p < 0.02) and their postoperative mean NYHA functional class improved significantly (2.2 ± 0.5 versus 2.8 ± 0.6). CONCLUSION: A small group of cardiac surgery patients may benefit from LV-lead implantation during concomitant procedures. A protocol for responder identification is useful. Existing devices should be upgraded to CRT systems. As CRT-ICD implantation is frequent, the additional costs and time are justified.

Inflammatory response in transapical transaortic valve replacement.

OBJECTIVE: Transapical aortic valve implantation (TA-AVI) has become a fast growing alternative to conventional aortic valve replacement (cAVR) particularly for patients burdened with serious comorbidities. We investigated whether the inflammatory response triggered by TA-AVI reflects the less invasive nature of this procedure. METHOD: In this prospective observational study 25 patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR; 15 cAVR and 10 TA-AVI) were included. Serial plasma cytokine concentrations (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) were measured by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits at six different time points before, during, and after surgery. RESULTS: Plasma levels of all three cytokines increased during and after both procedures and returned to baseline before the patient's discharge. Peak values of IL-6 were 258 ± 113 pg/mL in AVR patients versus 111 ± 101 pg/mL in TA-AVI patients and were reached 12 hours after surgery. For IL-8, peak values were 51 ± 29 pg/mL 1 hour after surgery in AVR patients versus 15 ± 20 pg/mL on wound closure in TA-AVI patients. Plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly reduced in the TA-AVI group as compared with cAVR. IL-10 is markedly activated in both groups yet its induction is more prominent in AVR patients with peak values of 51 ± 28 pg/mL for AVR versus 24 ± 18 pg/mL for TA-AVI on wound closure. CONCLUSION: TA-AVI compared with cAVR results in a significant reduction but not elimination of a systemic inflammatory response, which is attributable to cardiopulmonary bypass-dependent and bypass-independent factors.

Quetiapine versus risperidone in elderly patients with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: efficacy, safety and cognitive function.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we directly compared the efficacy and tolerability of the atypical antipsychotics quetiapine and risperidone in elderly patients with dementia and symptoms of disturbed perception, thought content, mood or behaviour (behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia-BPSD). METHODS: We conducted an 8-week, rater-blinded, randomised study of 72 outpatients (55-85 years) with BPSD (assessed by NPI baseline score), who received flexibly-dosed quetiapine (50-400 mg/day) or risperidone (0.5-2 mg/day). Primary efficacy measure: Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Parts 1 and 2; secondary efficacy measures: Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Age-adjusted concentration test (AKT). Safety evaluations included the incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS: Sixty-nine of 72 patients were evaluable for efficacy (72 were evaluated for safety), 4 patients discontinued (3 due to AEs: quetiapine 2, risperidone 1; 1 lost to follow-up). Sixty-five patients received quetiapine (n=34; mean dose 77+/-40 mg/day) or risperidone (n=31; mean dose 0.9+/-0.3 mg/day). There was no significant difference between treatments on NPI scores; within treatment groups, NPI scores decreased significantly from baseline to Week 8 (P

Surgical management of complications caused by transcatheter ASD closure.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter occlusion of uncomplicated atrial septum defects (ASD) is recognized as an effective and minimally invasive method. Sometimes, serious early and late complications require surgical intervention. We therefore investigated reasons and outcomes of the secondary surgical approach. METHODS: 5 patients (aged 5-73 yrs) were admitted to our institution for device explantation and surgical ASD closure. ASDOS devices (A devices) had to be explanted in 4 patients and a SIDERIS "buttoned" occluder (S device) had to be explanted in 1 patient. The period from transcatheter implantation to surgical explantation ranged from 1 hour to 3 years. RESULTS: 3 patients (60 %) had to be operated in an emergency setting. In our youngest patient (5 yrs), the A device separated and embolized into the aorta and pulmonary artery. A pregnant women who needed emergent cesarean section developed hemopericard and tamponade due to atrial perforation by a fractured leg of an A device. In another A device, a suspect endocarditis caused membrane perforation. Malpositioning of an S device was the reason for operation. All patients recovered well without neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Transcatheter closure of uncomplicated ASD is a feasible alternative but surgical stand-by is essential. Nevertheless more complicated ASD should be operated, especially since the cosmetically satisfactory techniques of minimal invasive heart surgery are available.

Zotepine in the treatment of acute hospitalized schizophrenic episodes.

The atypical antipsychotic zotepine was studied in an open, multicentre uncontrolled, post-marketing surveillance study in 108 schizophrenic patients hospitalized in 12 trial centres in Austria. Within the dosage range of 50-450 mg (mean at the end of the study, 207 +/- 125 mg/day), a significant reduction of positive as well as negative symptoms was noted. There was no increase in extrapyramidal side-effects during the study and a significant decrease in akathisia scores. The medication was well tolerated during the 42-day observation period. Zotepine improved both positive and negative symptoms and was not accompanied by extrapyramidal side-effects, justifying its classification as an atypical antipsychotic.

Subendocardial steal effect seen with real-time perfusion imaging at low emission power during adenosine stress: replenishment M-mode processing allows visualization of vertical steal.

We present a patient in whom power pulse inversion imaging clearly demonstrated a subendocardial myocardial perfusion defect during contrast vasodilator stress using adenosine. The defect was best appreciated with M-mode postprocessing of power pulse inversion imaging data.

Cognitive relapse after discontinuation of drug therapy in Alzheimer's disease: cholinesterase inhibitors versus nootropics.

In a cross-sectional study of outpatients diagnosed with dementia of the Alzheimer type who had been treated with a broad variety of drugs supposed to improve cognition or to delay cognitive decline, we have investigated the effects of abruptly discontinuing therapy on cognition. Termination of therapy with any cholinesterase inhibitor was associated with a cognitive decline during the following 6-7 weeks which was significantly more pronounced than that experienced by patients who had received nootropic drugs or calcium channel blockers (3.41 vs. 1.17 points on the ADAS-Cog scale; -1.14 vs. -0.06 points on the MMSE scale). This effect was not modified by gender, apolipoprotein E genotype, or the extent of ventricular enlargement on CT scans. Its magnitude was comparable to the cognitive response observed in published clinical trials when cholinesterase therapy commenced, and also with the data obtained during a 6-week placebo washout phase.

Effect of risperidone on behavioral and psychological symptoms and cognitive function in dementia.

AIMS: This open-label study examined the efficacy and tolerability of risperidone in the treatment of aggression, agitation, and psychotic symptoms in dementia. The influence of risperidone on cognitive function was also assessed under conditions reflecting normal, daily clinical care. METHOD: A total of 34 hospital inpatients and outpatients (mean age = 76 years) with DSM-IV dementia disorders were treated with flexible doses of risperidone (0.5-2 mg/day) for 8 weeks. Assessments, conducted at baseline and after weeks 4 and 8, included the Clinical Global Impressions scale (CGI) and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) ratings. Cognitive function assessments included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and specific measures of cognition (Age Concentration Test [AKT] and Brief Syndrome Test [SKT]). Frequency of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) was measured according to the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale (ESRS). RESULTS: At the end of the study, 50% of patients (N = 17) were receiving risperidone, 1 mg/day. 18% (N = 6) were receiving 0.5 mg/day, and 32% (N = 11) received > 1 mg/day (mean dose at endpoint = 1.1 mg/day). An improvement in symptoms, as measured by the CGI-Global Impression of Change scale, was reported for 82% of patients (N = 28) (59% [N = 20] much or very much improved). The frequency and severity of delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, and irritability decreased as measured by the NPI. Multiplication of frequency and severity scores revealed a significant decline during the course of treatment (p < .001, end of study vs. baseline). Caregiver responses on the NPI also showed an improvement, with the mean +/- SD total score decreasing from 24.2 +/- 7.3 at baseline to 21.2 +/- 6.3 at study end (p = .002). MMSE, AKT, and SKT results indicated that there was no decrease in cognitive function during the study. Risperidone treatment was well tolerated, and no clinically relevant changes in EPS. vital signs, or weight were detected. CONCLUSION: During treatment with low-dose risperidone, behavioral and psychological symptoms improved overall in 34 patients with dementia, and cognitive function was maintained throughout the treatment period.

A long-term, multicenter, open-label study of risperidone in elderly patients with psychosis. On behalf of the Risperidone Working Group.

RATIONALE: Studies have shown that risperidone is safe and efficacious in young and middle-aged adults with chronic schizophrenia, but considerably fewer data are available on the treatment of elderly patients with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders, particularly long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVE: A 12-month, open-label study was conducted to assess the effects of risperidone in elderly, chronically ill, psychotic patients. METHODS: This study enrolled 180 elderly, chronically ill, psychotic patients (median age, 72 years [range 54-89]), 97 of whom completed the 12-month study. At endpoint, the mean dose of risperidone was 3.7 mg/day. RESULTS: Clinical improvement (> or =20% reduction in Positive and Negative Syndrome Score [PANSS] total score) was achieved by 54% of patients at endpoint. There were significant reductions in PANSS total, subscale (positive, negative, and general psychopathology), and cognition cluster scores at endpoint (p<0.001). Clinical Global Impressions severity of illness scores showed continued improvement through month 12 (p<0.001). In contrast, PANSS data from a historical comparable control group of patients receiving conventional antipsychotic agents showed no symptom improvement over a 12-month treatment period. The severity of preexisting extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) in patients treated with risperidone decreased significantly from baseline to endpoint (p<0.001), and the use of antiparkinsonian medication decreased from 41.1% of patients before the trial to 25.6% during the trial. There were no spontaneous reports of tardive dyskinesia (TD) and the incidence of assessed TD was 4.3% in contrast to the expected 26% reported in middle-aged and elderly patients receiving conventional antipsychotic agents for 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment with risperidone was associated with continued symptom improvement, a decrease in the severity of preexising EPS, and a low incidence of TD in elderly psychotic patients.

No evidence for cognitive improvement from oral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in dementia.

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is advertised as an over-the-counter product or dietary supplement to treat Alzheimer's disease. We performed a 3-month open-label study with oral 10 mg/day NADH with 25 patients with mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer, vascular, and fronto-temporal types in addition to their current cholinomimetic drug medication. In 19 patients who completed the study, we found no evidence for any cognitive effect as defined by established psychometric tests. We conclude that NADH is unlikely to achieve cognitive improvements in an extent reported earlier, and present theoretical arguments against an effectiveness of this compound in dementia disorders.

[Homografts for mitral valve replacement in florid endocarditis--an alternative to prosthetic replacement]. / Homografts für den Mitralklappenersatz bei florider Endokarditis--eine Alternative zum prothetischen Ersatz.

INTRODUCTION: Homografts for valve replacement are indicated in acute valve endocarditis. It is assumed that they possess anti-infective properties. Homografts are an established indication in aortic valve replacement. We present our early results with homografts for mitral valve replacement in acute endocarditis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1996 and March 1998 we used cryopreserved homografts for mitral valve replacement in seven patients. In three cases (age 24, 42, and 34 years) the indication was an acute endocarditis with subsequent severe mitral valve insufficiency. The size of the required homograft was measured preoperatively using transesophageal echocardiography. For implantation the technique described by A. Carpentier was used; for stabilization of the mitral anulus a valvular ring (Physio) was implanted. Follow-up was done every six months including clinical and echocardiographical examinations. After the first postoperative year an Ultrafast-CT was done in addition. RESULTS: One patient had complete mitral valve replacement, in the other two cases the diseased parts of the valve were completely excised and the valve was repaired using a partial homograft. There were no perioperative deaths. In the follow-ups, up to 24 months of uneventful homograft function was documented by echocardiography; no insufficiency > degree I was seen on color Doppler echocardiography. At the last follow-up (mean follow-up 16 months, range 12 to 24 months) the average mitral valve orifice was 2.5 +/- 0.5 cm2, the mean pressure gradient 2.8 +/- 0.8 mm Hg. In Ultrafast-CT no morphological abnormalities of the mitral valves and no dilatation of the left ventricle were seen. There were no signs of a recurrence of the endocarditis in any patient during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Homografts for mitral valve replacement are an interesting alternative to prosthetic valve replacement, especially in younger patients. In cases with acute endocarditis, in which mechanical prosthesis should not be used, a reconstruction or repair of the mitral valve with preservation of the ventricular geometry is possible even if large parts of the mitral valve are infected.

[Non-cognitive symptom profiles in dementia--experience from psychiatric services and memory clinics]. / Nichtkognitive Symptomprofile bei Demenzpatienten. Erfahrungen aus Psychiatrie, Ambulanz und Memory-Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the non-cognitive symptoms in 153 consecutive dementia patients admitted to our psychiatric ward or seen at the gerontopsychiatric ambulance and Memory Clinic. METHODS: We used the Global Deterioration Scale, the Hachinski Ischaemia Score, the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression, and the Mini-Mental State Exam as staging tools in a cross-sectional design. A semi-quantitative 34-item questionnaire based on the Columbia University Scale for Psychopathology was employed to assess non-cognitive symptoms as reported by caregivers. RESULTS: All patients had disturbances of affect, 95% of behavior and 71% of motivation, while 52% and 29% had delusions and hallucinations, respectively. Delusions, but not hallucinations, were correlated with verbal and physical aggressiveness. Factor analysis extracted three complex variables which accounted for 40.6 percent of the observed total variance, and which were subsequently interpreted as manifestations of agitation, burdensome behavior, and depression. Using these variables, we then identified three categories of patients: Agitated, debilitated, and depressive-anxious. Depression and anxiety were most common 3-4 years after diagnosis. Patients with Alzheimer's disease had less severe behavioral and psychotic symptoms than those with other types of dementia. Agitation, depression, and loss of competence in daily living had a greater impact on caregivers than aggression and psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSION: The non-cognitive symptom profile is related to the type of dementia, and shifts dynamically with disease progression.

The effect of factor XIII on bleeding in coronary surgery.

BACKGROUND: One cause of diffuse bleeding after cardiac operations may be a low plasma concentration of Factor XIII, which is essential for coagulation, but is not covered by standard coagulation monitoring. METHODS: In a prospective pilot study, Factor XIII levels before and after extracorporeal circulation were investigated, and drain volumes and blood transfusions of a control group of 11 patients were compared with a group of 11 patients who received 2500 units Factor XIII postoperatively. RESULTS: Factor XIII fell significantly from preoperative values of 96.1% and 88.7% (control) to 55.7% and 51.8% (control) postoperatively. By administration of Factor XIII, plasma level rose significantly from 55.7% to 103.1%; in the control group the value remained low. Drain volumes on the first and second postoperative day were significantly lower in the Factor XIII group. In the control group 1.9 units of red blood cells and 1.6 units fresh frozen plasma were administered, in the Factor XIII group 0.9 and 0.6 units were necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Factor XIII influences bleeding after coronary surgery and can reduce the need for blood transfusions. In patients with prolonged diffuse bleeding, we therefore recommend substitution of Factor XIII.

Immunologic reaction and viability of cryopreserved homografts.

Homograft cell viability after cryopreservation was investigated and cytoimmunologic monitoring was performed during the early postoperative course to research possible immunologic reactions after allograft aortic valve replacement. After cryopreservation, morphologic observations were made, a nonradioactive cell proliferation assay was used, and prostaglandin I2 secretion of the remaining endothelial cells was determined. Cytoimmunologic monitoring was performed daily within the first 3 weeks postoperatively. An increase of the activation index greater than 1 was rated as an immunologic reaction. Maintained metabolic activity of graft endothelial cells after cryopreservation was confirmed by prostaglandin I2 release (9.24 +/- 3.48 ng/cm2 basic release and 20.1 +/- 5.76 ng/cm2 when stimulated with 25 mumol/L Na arachidonic acid). Cell proliferation was indicated after graft incubation with the nonradioactive viability kit (0.27 +/- 0.9 at 450 nm). Cytoimmunologic examinations (n = 861) after homograft implantation showed a more intense activation in patients with ABO-incompatible grafts (activation index 2.1 +/- 1.6, n = 16) than in those with ABO-compatible grafts (activation index 1.3 +/- 0.8, n = 17). In these groups, the duration of activation by cytoimmunologic monitoring was 2.8 +/- 1.5 days and 1.3 +/- 0.6 days, respectively (p < 0.041). No activation was observed in 8 patients after xenograft valve replacement (p < 0.01). Our data indicate that cryopreservation of homograft valves represents a cell- and tissue-protective preservation method. Postoperatively, all homograft valves caused immunologic reactions, which were reversible without immunosuppression treatment.

Homograft aortic root replacement for destructive valve endocarditis. The benefit of an in-house homograft bank.

This report concerns the surgical treatment of a 45-year old patient with active staphylococcus-endocarditis of the aortic valve which resulted in an aortic root abscess and consequently in a ventricular aortic discontinuity. A technique of homograft aortic root replacement after removal of all infected and necrotic areas is described. After a six month follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic (New York Heart Association functional class I) and shows no signs of recurrence of endocarditis. This case report makes the benefit of an in-house homograft-bank system obvious.

Cytoimmunological monitoring after homograft valve replacement.

Examination results concerning immunological reactions in cryopreserved allograft valves during the early postoperative course are so far not available. Cytoimmunological monitoring (CIM) is a well established method to prove rejection reaction after allograft transplantation and was used in this study. Allograft valves were harvested from patients who underwent heart transplantation, and did not require sterilizing in antibiotic solutions. The valves were dissected, conserved and subsequently frozen to -40 degrees C and stored in a freezing system at -196 degrees C. During the first 3 weeks following allograft implantation, CIM was performed daily. An activation index (AI) was determined from the cytological evaluation of the mononuclear concentrate in the peripheral blood. An increase of the AI > 1 was defined as an immunological reaction. As control we performed 98 CIM examinations in eight patients who underwent bioprosthetic valve replacement in the aortic position. Echocardiography (TTE and TEE) was used postoperatively as function control. Out of 16 patients who underwent cryopreserved aortic valve implantation in the aortic position, 336 CIM-results were obtained. An immunological reaction could be detected in all patients, starting on the 5th day on average. Comparing ABO-compatible (group I, n = 9) with ABO-incompatible (group II, n = 7) allografts, the AI-maximum in group I was 1.4 with a mean duration of 1.5 days. Group II was characterized by more intensive immunoreactions (mean = 2.3) which proved to be even more prolonged (mean = 3.3 days, P < 0.05). Nevertheless it became apparent that all observed immunological events were completely reversible without the need for immunosuppressive drugs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)