[Measurement of arterial blood pressure using the sphygmomanometer-S and the direct method]. / Pomiar cisnienia tetniczego krwi sfigmomanometrem-S i metoda bezposrednia.

Sphygmomanometer--S is the microcomputer device measuring blood pressure (BP) by the noninvasive sphygmooscillographic method following standard algorithm. When compared sphygmomanometer--S with auscultatory method, this device overestimated systolic BP by 7 mm Hg, and underestimated diastolic BP by 9 mm Hg on the average. In other words, sphygmomanometer--S overestimated systolic pressure and lowers diastolic pressure in relation to auscultatory method in the same ratio and value, as the direct method in relation to the auscultatory method. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of the results obtained by sphygmomanometer--S, with simultaneously recorded radial artery pressure by direct method. In 15 patients 27-60 years of age undergoing cardiac surgery BP was measured by sphygmomanometer--S and direct method simultaneously on the same left upper extremity. We measured direct radial artery pressure using AE 840 Nycotron transducer and Philips amplifier. BP by sphygmomanometer--S was obtained on the same left arm using cuffs of size 11 x 24 cm and 13 x 35 cm. In 15 patients 124 pairs of BP measurement were carried out with sphygmomanometer--S and direct method. The regression equation for systolic, diastolic and mean pressure demonstrated the coincidence of the BP results obtained by sphygmomanometer--S with direct method. The correlation coefficient (r) was 0.97 for systolic, 0.90 for diastolic and 0.92 for mean pressure. Systolic and diastolic pressure measured by the sphygmomanometer--S were 2 mm Hg and mean 0.6 mm Hg higher on the average, than the same pressures obtained by direct method (ryc. 1). These differences were statistically not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Candida sp. infection-late complication of a double valve replacement.

Severe complications prolonged the original hospital stay to over 2 months. After 5 months intermittent fever lead to readmission, but no cause could be found. After 7 months severe fever and heart failure developed. Initially valve endocarditis was suspected. After a blood culture had revealed Candida sp. antimycotic therapy was carried out. The reoperation showed surprisingly no valve endocarditis, but a mycotic lesion of the aortic suture.

Use of the intraluminal vascular prosthesis for the repair of aneurysm of the ascending aorta.

We present the case of a 49-year-old patient with aneurysm of the ascending aorta as well as mitral and aortic valvar insufficiency treated surgically. Preoperatively the patient was in NYHA functional class IV. We implanted mitral and aortic valvar prostheses and an intraluminal vascular graft in the ascending aorta above the coronary ostia. The postoperative course was uneventful. Five months after the operation the patient is in functional class II.

Superior vena caval stenosis: a rare complication in permanent transvenous cardiac pacing.

An unusual case of superior vena caval stenosis associated with a permanent transvenous cardiac pacing wire and its successful treatment by surgical reconstruction using a pericardial patch is reported.