Nutrition-related status and granulation tissue colour of pressure ulcers evaluated by digital image analysis in older patients.

OBJECTIVE: Granulation tissue colour may be an indicator for nutritional assessment in pressure ulcer (PU) care. This study evaluated the relationship between nutritional status, anaemia and diabetes, and granulation tissue colour of PUs by colour analysis of digital photographs in the clinical setting. METHOD: The cross-sectional study included 42 older patients with 51 full-thickness PUs from 10 institutions. Patient demographics, wound status, nutritional status and dietary intakes were obtained from medical charts. From a wound image, the granulation red index was processed by computer software and the proportion of pixels exceeding the threshold intensity of 80 for the granulation tissue surface (%GRI80) was calculated. RESULTS: Haemoglobin levels were positively associated with %GRI80 levels (p=0.007) in the crude model, but not in the adjusted model (p=0.260). The interaction term between diabetes and protein intake was significantly associated with %GRI80 levels in the adjusted models (p=0.010). At protein intakes of 0.95 g/kg or higher, diabetic wounds exhibited lower %GRI80 levels than non-diabetic wounds (p=0.002). At protein intakes of less than 0.95 g/kg, %GRI80 levels did not differ between diabetic and non-diabetic patients (p=0.247). Protein intakes of 0.95 g/kg or higher were associated with higher %GRI80 levels in non-diabetic patients (p=0.015), but not in diabetic patients (p=0.127). CONCLUSION: Granulation tissue colour, evaluated by the objective and quantitative analysis of digital photography, is related to haemoglobin level, diabetes and dietary intakes in clinical settings.

Quantitative estimation of exudate volume for full-thickness pressure ulcers: the ESTimation method.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an equation for the estimation of exudate volume in millilitres, for full-thickness pressure ulcers, according to wound characteristics. METHOD: In a cross-sectional study, 41 patients aged >60 years with 58 full-thickness pressure ulcers were evaluated. Exudate was collected by covering each wound with a transparent occlusive dressing and the accumulated volume was measured to estimate volume per day. The overall severity of each wound was evaluated by the DESIGN-R tool; a model was then developed to estimate the volume of exudate based on these experimental values. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the precision and accuracy of the model. RESULTS: The model, including exudate score, size score, and total score, showed a higher adjusted coefficient of determination (R²=0.66) than the model with only a traditional exudate score (R²=0.57). After adjustment for age, inclusion of interaction terms, and modification of bias, a model with continuous parameters was finally developed: exudate volume per day (ml/day) = exp([0.86×exudate score]+ [0.21×size score]+[0.12×total score]-[0.013×size score×total score]-[0.04×age]-3.60). Furthermore, a categorical model was developed for clinical simplicity of use. The adjusted R2 was increased to 0.73 for the continuous model and to 0.77 for the categorical model. There were no apparent biases (p>0.05) and no correlations between residuals and measured value (p>0.05) in these models. CONCLUSION: The equation, including the exudate score, size score and total score of DESIGN-R, as well as age, is called the ESTimation method. It will be useful for clinicians to predict the absolute volume of exudate and to select appropriate dressings for full-thickness pressure ulcers. DECLARATION OF INTEREST: The authors have nothing to declare.

Predicting delayed pressure ulcer healing using thermography: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether thermography can be used to detect latent inflammation in pressure ulcers and predict pressure ulcer prognosis in a clinical setting. METHOD: For this cohort study, we recruited 35 patients with stage II-IV pressure ulcers on the torso, who underwent thermographic assessment on discovery of their pressure ulcer. The patients were followed up for at least 3 weeks. Thermography was performed immediately after dressing removal. Pressure ulcers were classified into two groups depending on whether or not the wound site temperature was lower or higher than the periwound skin: the low temperature group and the high temperature group respectively. A generalised estimation equation was used to estimate the relative risk of delayed healing of pressure ulcers, comparing wounds with high temperatures and low temperatures. RESULTS: Of the 35 patients, 21 had 'low temperature' wounds and 14 had 'high temperature' wounds at baseline. Two patients in the high temperature group presented with overt infection, and were excluded from further analysis. Twenty-two pressure ulcers were considered to heal 'normally' (that is, the wound area reduced by 30% or more within 3 weeks) and 16 did not heal. The baseline DESIGN score (a measure of gross wound status) did not differ in any subscales between the high and low temperature groups. The relative risk for delayed healing in high temperature cases was 2.25 (95% confidence intervals; 1.13-4.47, p=0.021). Sensitivity was 0.56, specificity was 0.82, positive predictive value was 0.75, and negative predictive value was 0.67. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that using thermography to classify pressure ulcers according to temperature could be a useful predictor of healing at 3 weeks, even though wound appearances may not differ at the point of thermographical assessment. The higher temperature in the wound site, when compared with periwound skin, may imply the presence of critical colonisation, or other factors which disturb the wound healing.

Can ultrasonographic evaluation of subcutaneous fat predict pressure ulceration?

High-resolution ultrasound may be able to detect pressure ulcers before clinical signs emerge. This retrospective study found that one such early indicator is inflammatory oedema in the subcutaneous fat, which resolves as healing occurs.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of an unusual peri-anal induration: a possible case of deep tissue injury.

High-resolution ultrasound produces good quality echo images of skin and subcutaneous lesions. Here, it was used to characterise an atypical induration, which the authors speculate might have been a deep tissue injury.

Outcome of directly observed therapy for tuberculosis in Yokohama City, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Yokohama City is currently developing directly observed treatment (DOT) in its programme, and requires guidance on types of DOT appropriate for local conditions. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of DOT for tuberculosis treatment in a retrospective study under operational conditions in Yokohama City. METHODS: We included 80 patients with sputum-positive tuberculosis, 39 enrolled in DOT and 41 self-administered patients. The study was done at the National Hospital for Chest Diseases and the Community Clinic, which provide tuberculosis services with a standard daily short-course regimen. The main outcome measures were cure and treatment completion. RESULTS: The cure or treatment completion rate for the DOT and self-administered groups were respectively 87.2% and 68.3%. In a multivariate logistic regression model, cure or treatment completion was significantly associated with out-patient DOT (OR 4.04, 95%CI 1.22-13.33, P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: DOT was shown to be significantly superior to the self-administered regimen. However, our results were from an impoverished population with city-sponsored apartments and supplementary benefits. Further research will be needed to know the effectiveness of DOT in the general population.

[Surgical repair of left ventricular aneurysm; long-term results].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the late results of left ventricular (LV) aneurysm repair. METHODS: From July 1968 to 1999, 86 consecutive patients (74 male, 12 female, mean age 56.0 +/- 9.3) underwent LV aneurysm repair at our institute. The surgical methods were as follows; linear repair in 71 patients, endoaneurysmorrhaphy in 5, endoventricular circular plasty in 4, Jatene method in 1 and plication of aneurysm in 5. Thirty-nine patients underwent concomitant myocardial revascularization. Major arrhythmias occurred in 38 patients. The results were retrospectively reviewed and follow-up was achieved in 95.3%. RESULTS: There were 6 operative deaths and 4 hospital deaths. Actuarial survival rate including the 10 deaths was 72.7% at 5 years and 46.3% at 10 years. In patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), survival rate was 82.2% at 5 years and 56.3% at 10 years, and was significantly higher than that in those without revascularization (p = 0.01). In patients without arrhythmias, survival rate was 79.2% at 5 years and 55.0% at 10 years, and was significantly higher than that in patients with arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS: The patients were not homologous and the techniques were not the same; however, in spite of these study limitations, patients who underwent revascularization, and were without major arrhythmias preoperatively, had better long-term survival.

Progress in the treatment of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch: approach through median sternotomy.

AIM: A review of past and current operative procedures for the treatment of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch is presented in conjunction with a series of 43 patients. In this study, distal aortic arch aneurysm refers to an aneurysm involving at least the origin of the left subclavian artery, but not extending beyond the left common carotid artery. We excluded dissection aneurysm and extended aneurysm to the descending thoracic aorta from this study. METHODS: Between January, 1985, and March, 2000, 43 consecutive patients (37 males, 6 females; mean age 67.5 years) underwent repair of aneurysms of the distal aortic arch. The approach to the aneurysm was through a left thoracotomy in 4 patients and a median sternotomy in 39 patients, including an additional left thoracotomy continued to a median sternotomy in 2 patients. The supportive methods during surgery were left heart bypass using a centrifugal pump in 4 patients (LHB group), cardiopulmonary bypass with selective cerebral perfusion in 11 patients (SCP group), and cardiopulmonary bypass with continuous retrograde cerebral perfusion in 28 patients (RCP group). In the RCP group, the "aortic no-touch technique" was applied in 21 patients. The operative methods were patch closure in 4 patients, graft replacement of the distal arch using the inclusion technique in 14 patients, and total arch replacement using the exclusion technique in 25 patients. RESULTS: There were 5 hospital deaths: 1 patient in the LHB group, intractable bleeding; 1 patient in the SCP group, rupture of the distal anastomosis; 3 patients in the RCP group, stroke, rupture of the dissection arising from the distal anastomosis, and perioperative myocardial infarction. Stroke occurred in 1 patient (25%) with LHB, 3 patients (27.2%) with SCP, and 1 patient (3.6%) with RCP. Among the postoperative survivors, a new onset of left recurrent nerve palsy occurred in 2 patients (66.7%) with LHB, 1 patient (10%) with SCP, and in 1 patient (4%) with RCP. No neurological injury or left recurrent nerve palsy occurred in the patients who underwent the "aortic no-touch technique". CONCLUSION: Total arch replacement with the graft exclusion technique under profound hypothermic circulatory arrest using RCP through the median sternotomy is a promising surgical treatment for atherosclerotic distal aortic arch aneurysm. The "aortic no-touch technique" further improved the surgical results of the distal aortic arch aneurysm.

[Total arch replacement for right aortic arch with Kommerell diverticulum and aberrant left subclavian artery].

A 57-year-old man suspected of having angina pectoris underwent coronary angiography and comprehensive examination, which revealed a right-side aortic arch accompanying Kommerell diverticulum and a aberrant left subclavian artery. Esophagography indicated that the esophagus was compressed on its right posterior side and the computed tomography (CT) revealed that the posterior side of the tracheal was compressed, however, the patient experienced no difficulty in breathing, hoarseness of voice or dysphasia. The size of the aortic diverticulum was less than 5 cm and the patient showed no symptom, however, if it was left untreated, there was a risk of rupture in the future. Also the esophagus and tracheal may develop complications due to prolonged compression. Therefore, we decided that the case required surgical operation. Total arch replacement was performed through mediastinotomy and right posterolateral in the 4th intercostal. The postoperative condition was good, and the patient was discharged without any complications.

Long-term results after De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although some surgeons prefer to use artificial valve rings for tricuspid valve annuloplasty, we have mainly performed De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty for functional tricuspid regurgitation, because it is a simple and effective technique for reducing tricuspid regurgitation due to annular dilatation. We evaluated long-term results of the De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty up to 19 postoperative years. METHODS: Between January 1980 and June 1999, 408 patients underwent De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty. Long-term results after De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 14 (3.4%) early deaths within 30 postoperative days. There were 63 (15.4%) late deaths during the follow-up period. The actuarial survival rate at 15 years after operation was 74.0%, the 15-year freedom from re-operation was 91.6%, and the 15-year freedom from all events was 58.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that De Vega's tricuspid annuloplasty was an effective and reliable procedure of choice for secondary tricuspid regurgitation with annular dilatation.

[Early and mid-term results of all arterial graft coronary artery bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic and radial arterial conduits].

From March 1996 to May 2000, 41 patients [age 39-78 (mean 63.5 +/- 8.8) years, 90.2% male] underwent all arterial multiple coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using bilateral internal thoracic (BiITA) and radial (RA) arterial conduits. The reason for using RA was that the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) was small or occluded on preoperative angiography, a history of upper abdominal surgery or disease, or the right coronary arterial lesion was proximal and mild. The BiITA were used as in situ grafts and the proximal anastomosis of RA was to the ascending aorta in all cases. All patients underwent conventional elective CABG with median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean number of anastomoses was 3.3 +/- 0.5 branches and complete revascularization rate was 80.5%. Postoperative follow-up averaged 20 months and the longest was 50 months. There was no early death, and overall graft patency 2-3 weeks after surgery was 96.2% (LITA 94.0%, RITA 97.6%, RA 97.6%). Four-year actuarial survival rate was 96.4 +/- 3.5% (1 patient: 9 months, no cardiac death), and cardiac event-free rate after surgery was 89.7 +/- 4.9% [4 patients: percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)]. However, once patients were discharged from hospital, cardiac event-free rate was 100%. These excellent results suggest that all arterial graft CABG was satisfactory, and RA can be used as a third suitable arterial bypass conduit, if RGEA cannot be used or is unsuitable for use.

[Dissecting aneurysm of ventricular septum following acute inferior myocardial infarction].

Dissecting aneurysm of the ventricular septum as a complication after myocardial infarction (MI) is very rare. The patient was a 70-year-old women who was diagnosed with acute inferior MI. Three months after MI, catheterization showed a left ventricular aneurysm of the inferior wall, and left-to-right ventricular shunt flow was detected in the aneurysm. Echocardiography showed that the inferior left ventricular free wall was aneurysmal and dissected from the septal wall. Nine months after MI, chronic heart failure was uncontrollable by medication. At surgery, a tear (5 mm long) in the dissecting aneurysm of the ventricular septum was found and closed directly using 2 felt patches, and aneurysmectomy was performed using felt strips. The postoperative course was uneventful and she has been free from any complication for over 1 year.

[Mitral valve stenosis due to primary cardiac granulocytic sarcoma relapsing 8 years after complete remission: a case report].

A 28-year-old man was admitted because of dyspnea on effort. His tricuspid valve had been affected by granulocytic sarcoma and manifested tricuspid valve stenosis 8 years previously. After chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the tumor had disappeared and the tricuspid valve stenosis was relieved. Echocardiography showed that the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve was affected by the tumor, and Doppler ultrasonography revealed mild mitral valve stenosis. Biopsy of the anterior chest wall detected granulocytic sarcoma. Chemotherapy was started. The tumor size was reduced and the mitral valve stenosis became slight. Primary cardiac granulocytic sarcoma is very rare and stenosis of the atrioventricular valve by relapse of this tumor after complete remission is extremely unusual.

[Cardiovascular effects of colforsin daropate hydrochloride for acute heart failure after open heart surgery].

Colforsin daropate hydrochloride (COL) is a novel drug for the treatment of acute heart failure. COL stimulates adenylate cyclase directly and produces positive inotropic and vasodilator effects accompanied by the increase in cellular cAMP. We investigated its cardiovascular effects for 9 patients who showed low cardiac index (< 3.0 l/min/m2) after open-heart surgery in ICU. After 2 or 3 hours from administration of COL, heart rate and cardiac index increased, and pulmonary artery pressure and central venous pressure decreased significantly, but blood pressure and systemic venous oxygen saturation did not show significant change. In conclusion, COL improved hemodynamics through positive inotropic and vasodilator effects without hypotension. We should investigate more proper usage of this drug to avoid such side effects as tachycardia and arrhythmia, which occurred in some cases.

[A case report of extended thoracoabdominal graft repair for dissecting aneurysm (DeBakey Type IIIb) with visceral ischemia].

A 62-year-old man diagnosed as dissecting aneurysm (DeBakey type IIIb) with visceral is chemia was transferred to our hospital. He had suffered from abdominal pain and the absence of right femoral pulse. Emergent laparotomy revealed no evidence of visceral infarction. Right axillo-femoral bypass was performed. However, visceral ischemia gradually progressed. Enhanced CT and angiography showed that celiac artery and supramesenteric artery (SMA) were collapsed. He underwent graft replacement of thoracoabdominal aorta involving visceral arteries with femoro-femoral bypass with a centrifugal pump as an ajunct. The visceral arteries were reconstructed. Postoperative CT revealed sufficient flow of branch arteries. He recovered well without complication and then discharged.

Ostial stenosis of coronary arteries after complete replacement of aortic root using gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue.

Coronary ostial stenosis between an interposition graft and coronary artery is rare and fatal. A 46-year-old woman who had reconstruction of both coronary arteries using interposition grafts for type A acute dissecting aneurysm presented with acute chest pain. Emergent coronary artery bypass grafting was done with saphenous vein grafts. Inappropriate use of gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde glue can be associated with ostial stenosis in the long term. Transesophageal echocardiography is useful to diagnose ostial stenosis of the coronary arteries.

The role of diastolic pump flow in centrifugal blood pump hemodynamics.

We tried to verify the hypothesis that increases in pump flow during diastole are matched by decreases in left ventricular (LV) output during systole. A calf (80 kg) was implanted with an implantable centrifugal blood pump (EVAHEART, SunMedical Technology Research Corp., Nagano, Japan) with left ventricle to aorta (LV-Ao) bypass, and parameters were recorded at different pump speeds under general anesthesia. Pump inflow and outflow pressure, arterial pressure, systemic and pulmonary blood flow, and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded on the computer every 5 ms. All parameters were separated into systolic and diastolic components and analyzed. The pulmonary flow was the same as the systemic flow during the study (p > 0.1). Systemic flow consisted of pump flow and LV output through the aortic valve. The ratio of systolic pump flow to pulmonary flow (51.3%) did not change significantly at variable pump speeds (p > 0.1). The other portions of the systemic flow were shared by the left ventricular output and the pump flow during diastole. When pump flow increased during diastole, there was a corresponding decrease in the LV output (Y = -1.068X + 51.462; R(insert)(2) = 0.9501). These show that pump diastolic flow may regulate expansion of the left ventricle in diastole.

[Transmyocardial laser revascularization: overview of clinical and experimental data].

Transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) using carbon dioxide and Holmium YAG laser has been approved by FDA and is now under clinical evaluation in patients with refractory angina who are not candidate of CABG or PTCA. Original concept of TMLR was direct perfusion from left ventricle through channel created by laser. However, pathological analysis showed closed channel in almost all cases, and most possible mechanism of TMLR are now thought to be angiogenesis following to inflammatory response of laser injury. Most prospective randomized trial comparing TMLR and conservative medical treatment demonstrated significantly less angina in TMLR patients and better exercise tolerance and angina-free survival rate during follow-up period. On the other hand, no significant differences were demonstrated in overall mortality rate, myocardial perfusion or cardiac function.

Coronary artery bypass with only in situ bilateral internal thoracic arteries and right gastroepiploic artery.

BACKGROUND: With the rapid advance of catheter intervention, the direction taken by surgeons is not only to make conventional CABG less invasive but also to pursue better long-term results by using more arterial conduits. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between July 1989 and April 2000, 239 patients (218 men, 21 women) with a mean age of 59.7 (range 39 to 79) years underwent CABG with exclusive use of both internal thoracic arteries (ITAs) and the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA). ITA grafts were harvested by using the skeletonization technique. Most patients (96%) had either triple-vessel or left main disease. Fifty percent of the patients were diabetic, and 16 were being treated with insulin. The left ventricular ejection fraction was