Diagnosis and management of traumatic ventricular septal defect.

Four cases of ventricular septal defect secondary to stab wounds of the heart are presented. One of three patients arriving at the Emergency Department in shock and who were resuscitated required an emergency thoracotomy. These patients had immediate repair of their external cardiac wounds in the Operating Room. Cases 1 and 3 developed heart failure and loud systolic murmur postoperatively. Case 4 was treated with chest tube for a left hemothorax and developed heart failure after discharge. In Cases 1, 2, and 3, 2-D echocardiography detected and located a VSD. In Case 3 Doppler measurement showed elevated RV pressure (45 mm Hg) and decreased peak tricuspid to mitral flow ratio (0.36, normal = 0.6). All patients underwent cardiac catheterization. In Case 4 there was associated mitral regurgitation. Cases 1 and 3 had pulmonary to systemic flow ratios greater than 3:1. Cases 1, 3, and 4 underwent operative repair. In Case 1 the VSD was closed with a dacron patch, and in Cases 3 and 4 it was sutured with Teflon pledgets. In Case 4 a puncture wound of the mitral valve annulus was simultaneously repaired. All patients are alive but in Case 1 postoperative 2-D echocardiography demonstrated partial dehiscence of the patch which has not required reoperation and in Case 3 post-repair 2-D echocardiography and Doppler flow studies have shown an intact VSD repair. This series of post-traumatic VSD demonstrates its varying clinical presentation and the diagnostic and followup benefits offered by 2-D echocardiography, especially when combined with Doppler flow measures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transfemoral removal of a chronically implanted pacemaker lead: report of a case.

A transfemoral angiographic technique was used to remove a chronically implanted, infected pacemaker wire that could not be withdrawn by using direct traction. The case and a description of the technique are detailed, and the principles of nonsurgical extraction of chronically implanted pacemaker wires are discussed.

Changes in antithrombin, antiplasmin, and plasminogen during and after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Platelet counts and several clotting parameters, especially antithrombin, alpha 2-antiplasmin, and plasminogen, were determined in 33 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Except for Factors VIII and XI, all activities measured fell significantly as the patients were placed on the pump. This initial drop paralleled the drop in hematocrit, i.e., the drop was most likely due to hemodilution. During the entire procedure the activities remained decreased, again paralleling the hematocrit. Only the drop in platelet counts was greater than the hematocrit, suggesting additional consumption during bypass. In the ICU a second significant drop in antithrombin, prothrombin, and Factor V was noted that was not reflected by a drop in hematocrit. The cause for this is not known at this time. Although the patients with the lowest antithrombin levels, compared to the highest levels in the ICU seemed to have a greater need for protamine and blood and had greater chest tube drainage, none of these changes were significantly different. Comparisons between activated clotting times (ACTs) and actual heparin levels revealed a good correlation (0.886). Good correlations were also noted when manual factor assays were compared with automated assays using an automated analyzer suggesting the potential use of automation and profiling for these patients. Possible reasons for some of the most commonly encountered postoperative bleeding problems are discussed.

Computerized tomography in the diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Computerized tomography allows good definition of the retroperitoneal space, especially the abdominal aorta. During a 15 month interval, 30 patients with pulsatile, abdominal masses were evaluated by computerized tomography to determine the presence of an aortic aneurysm, 4 centimeters or greater in size. Twenty-one of the 30 patients were found to have an aneurysm. In patients with a normal aorta, information concerning another disease process was often obtained. Results of computerized tomography were then compared with the other diagnostic techniques available and, in certain instances, with the size of the aneurysm at operation. Computerized tomography is the most accurate means of evaluating abdominal aortic aneurysms. The ability to detect a retroperitoneal space hemorrhage and to assess the pathologic condition of other abdominal viscera are two additional advantages.