ANEURYSM OF SINUS OF VALSALVA DISSECTING INTO THE INTERVENTRICULAR SEPTUM – ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC DIAGNOSIS (A Case Report)

Aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva dissecting into interventricular septum is a rare entity. We report one such case who was incidentally diagnosed by echocardiography to have this abnormality during evaluation of a clinically suspected isolated aortic regurgitation.KEY WORDS: Aneurysm – dissecting – sinus of Valsalva, Echocardiography     

Total cavopulmonary anastomosis using atrial septal flap: technique and early results

Introduction The Fontan procedure has undergone many modifications to avoid atrial arrhythmias and thrombus formation. We used patient’s interatrial septum as a flap to direct the inferior venacaval blood to the superior venacava. Methods Seventeen patients, aged 1 to 17 years, underwent modified total cavopulmonary anastomosis. Interatrial septum was used to create the inner half of the atrial tunnel, outer half being formed by right atrial free wall. Post-operatively, all patients underwent echocardiography. Seven patients underwent 24 hour ambulatory Holter monitoring and 6 patients underwent cardiac catheterization and cineangiography. Results There was one early death due to low cardiac output. One patient had transient supraventricular arrhythmia. Two patients had singnificant pleural effusion. Holter Monitoring reveled sinus rhythm in all 7 patients studied. Follow up ranged from 18 to 60 months and patients were evaluated as they came for follow up. Long term follow up is currently being compiled. There was one late death from a non-cardiac cause. The remaining patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I or II. All patients were in sinus rhythm. Echocardiography and cineangiography revealed absence of obstruction or leak. Conclusions Total cavopulmonary anastomosis using autogenous atrial septum is a useful modification for classical cavopulmonary anastomosis and provides good early results.     

温血或冷晶体心脏停搏液对体外循环术后房性心律失常发生的影响

目的　了解不同的心肌保护方法是否对体外循环 (ECC)术后房性心律失常有影响。　方法　将 12只成年杂交犬随机分为两组 ,A组 :6只犬 ,用持续温血心脏停搏液灌注 ;B组 :6只犬 ,用冷晶体心脏停搏液灌注和局部低温。两组动物主动脉阻断时间均为 30分钟。记录术前及术后 1～ 5天 2 4小时动态心电图 ,计算标准化房性心律失常 ,标准化室性心律失常和 2 4小时平均心率。　结果　 ECC后两组动物均未出现心房颤动。尽管术后 A组标准化房性心律失常率高于 B组 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,但两组动物术前、术后标准化房性心律失常率无明显变化 ,标准化室性心律失常率亦无明显变化。此外 ,两组动物术后 2 4小时平均心率亦升高 ,且 B组高于 A组 (P<0 .0 5 )。　结论　不同的心肌保护方法对 ECC术后房性心律失常的发生无明显影响。     

Is chronic migraine one end of a spectrum of migraine or a separate entity?

Chronic migraine is associated with abnormalities in the periaqueductal grey that may be progressive. The condition is also associated with a greater degree of impairment in cortical processing of sensory stimuli than episodic migraine, perhaps due to more pervasive or persistent cortical hyperexcitability. These findings fit with the model of migraine as a spectrum disorder, in which the clinical and pathophysiological features may progress over time. This progression may result from changes in nociceptive thresholds and ensuing central sensitization caused by recurrent migraine in susceptible individuals. This may lead to changes in baseline neurological function between headaches, evident not only in electrophysiological and functional imaging studies, but also as psychological and somatic complaints that occur after years of episodic migraine. From current research and migraine models, a conceptualization of chronic migraine is emerging in which relatively permanent and pervasive central changes have occurred that warrant novel and tolerable treatments.     

Ultrasonography in the preoperative staging of carcinoma of the breast

Data relative to 51 patients operated for breast carcinoma were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had undergone US and mammographic evaluation of max diameter of the neoplastic nodule. The above data were correlated with pathologic measurements of the surgical specimens. US-pathologic correlation coefficient was extremely high (r = 0.94). US proved especially helpful in those cases where mammography had failed to visualize the mass-namely in patients with dense breasts. Nearly all evaluated carcinomas had a typical US pattern: a hypoechoic lesion with irregular outline. US is recommended in evaluating tumor response to nonsurgical conservative treatment.