Insights from examination of hearts from adults dying suddenly to the understanding of congenital cardiac malformations

Congenital heart disease is a rare but important finding in adults who experience sudden death. Examination of the congenitally malformed heart has historically been considered esoteric and best left to those with expertise. The Cardiac Risk in the Young cardiovascular pathology laboratory based at St George's University of London has now received over 6,000 cases. Of these, 21 congenitally malformed hearts were retained for research and educational purposes. Hearts were assessed using sequential segmental analysis, and causes of death were adjudicated based on thorough macroscopic examination and histology. Congenital malformations that were encountered included atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and transposition of the great arteries in both its regular and congenitally corrected variants. Findings also included hearts with mirror-imaged and isomeric atrial appendages. Direct causes of death included myocardial fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and hemorrhage. A small but notable proportion did not reveal a substrate for arrhythmia, raising the question of whether the terminal event was due to the congenital heart disease itself, or an underlying channelopathy. Here, we demonstrate the value of simple sequential segmental analysis in describing and categorizing the cases, with the concept of the “morphological method” serving to identify the distinguishing features of the cardiac components. Clin. Anat. 33:394–404, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Oral Everolimus for Treatment of a Giant Left Ventricular Rhabdomyoma in a Neonate—Rapid Tumor Regression Documented by Real Time 3D Echocardiography

The presented case reports on successful treatment with everolimus in a neonate with left ventricular giant rhabdomyoma. The authors used a different dosage regime compared to literature and documented rapid tumor regression by 3D echocardiography.     

Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: Can We Afford the Cost of Cardioverter-Defibrillators? Data from the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study

Background: Large randomized trials show that in appropriately selected patients with left ventricular dysfunction, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can improve overall survival at 2–5 years. Since direct implementation of the criteria used in the MADIT II and SCD-HeFT will lead to a marked rise in ICD implants, there is a growing fear that increased use of ICDs may cause a dramatic burden to health care systems. The ICD has traditionally been seen as an expensive form of treatment, which is difficult to accept at the first look. This is mainly due to the nonlinear character of the ICD investment, characterized by high initial expenditure, followed by a deferred pay-off in terms of clinical benefits. Cost-effectiveness analysis may help provide a different perspective on the problem of ICD cost, as may estimation of the daily cost of ICD treatment, assuming a time horizon of 5–7 years—a particularly interesting subject for further registry studies.
Methods and Results: Based on real expenditure data from 2002 to 2005, as recorded in the Search-MI Registry-Italian Sub-study of patients implanted on MADIT II indications, we estimated the daily costs associated with the device and leads. Over a 5–7 year time horizon, the average daily cost was estimated to be €4.60–€6.70. Translation of these figures into U.S. market conditions suggests a daily cost of around $7.90–$11.40.
Conclusions: These findings appear useful to help evaluate the affordability of ICD in comparison with other therapeutic options in a context of limited available economic resources.     

Examination of the effects of hemodynamic and pharmacologic interventions on coronary collateral flow in a patient during cardiac catheterization

The vasomotor response of native human collateral vessels to pharmacologic or hemodynamic vasodilatory stimuli is not well known. We describe a case where retrograde collateral flow velocity was measured both at baseline and following selected hemodynamic and pharmacologic interventions. This index case represents the first in a series of potential human physiologic studies designed to address questions pertaining to control of collateral blood supply in humans. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

TAXUS支架治疗急性冠状动脉综合症的疗效评价

目的评价紫杉醇洗脱冠状动脉支架(TAXUStmBoston公司产品)应用于急性冠状动脉综合症病人的临床疗效及安全性。方法自2003年5月至2004年12月接受TAXUS支架治疗的94例急性冠状动脉综合症患者,观察术后即刻效果、术后6个月心脏性死亡、心肌梗塞、再次血管重建及冠状动脉造影复查情况。病例中包括ST段抬高的急性心肌梗塞27例,非ST段抬高的急性心肌梗死8例,不稳定心绞痛59例。结果支架植入成功率为99%,术中和随访期间无死亡,术后1例出现亚急性血栓,1例晚期血栓致心肌梗塞,另有5例随访中进行了血管重建术,6个月主要心脏不良事件(MACE)发生率7.4%。术后6～7个月23例的冠状动脉造影复查再狭窄率为13.0%(支架内为8.6%),靶病变重建率为2.7%。结论应用TAXUS支架治疗急性冠状动脉综合症是安全和有效的,支架内再狭窄率明显低于普通金属支架。     

Warfarin or Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Therapy does not Prolong Pig-To-Primate Cardiac Xenograft Function

Microvascular thrombosis is a prominent feature in cardiac delayed xenograft rejection (DXR). We investigated the impact of warfarin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) anti-coagulation on xenograft function using a heterotopic pig-to-primate model. Donor hearts were from CD46 transgenic pigs and baboon immunosuppression included tacrolimus, sirolimus, anti-CD20 and TPC, an alpha-galactosyl-polyethylene glycol conjugate. Three groups of animals were studied. Group 1 (n = 9) was treated with warfarin, Group 2 (n = 13) with LMWH and Group 3, received no anti-coagulant drugs. The median duration of xenograft function was 20 days (range 3-62 days), 18 days (range 5-109 days) and 15 days (range 4-53 days) in Groups 1 to 3 respectively. Anti-coagulation achieved the targeted international normalized prothrombin ratio (INR) and anti-factor Xa levels consistent with effective in vivo therapy yet, no significant impact on median xenograft function was observed. At rejection, a similar histology of thrombosis and ischemia was apparent in each group and the levels of fibrin deposition and platelet thrombi in rejected tissue was the same. Anti-coagulation with warfarin or LMWH did not have a significant impact on the onset of DXR and microvascular thrombosis. However, a role for specific anti-coagulant strategies to achieve long-term xenograft function cannot be excluded.     

强心通脉灵对大鼠急性心肌梗死后心室重构的影响

目的探讨强心通脉灵对急性心肌梗死(AMI)大鼠心室重构(VR)的干预机制。方法选择Wistar大鼠85只,随机分为强心通脉灵大剂量组(QXLmax组)12只、强心通脉灵小剂量组(QXLmin组)14只、卡托普利组11只、模型组15只和假手术组13只,采取冠状动脉结扎造成AMI模型,术后均予口服给药治疗,模型组及假手术组予以相应的生理盐水。4周后处死,放射免疫法测血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,计算左心室质量指数,光镜下观察心尖组织病理形态学改变,采用ABC染色测TGF-β1的表达量。结果模型组及各给药组AngⅡ水平较高,各给药组较模型组有下降趋势,其中QXLmax组较卡托普利组及QXLmin组更低。模型组及各给药组SOD水平较假手术组降低,QXLmax组及QXLmin组较模型组有升高趋势,左心室质量指数模型组较假手术组显著升高,各给药组较假手术组有升高趋势,QXLmax组较QXLmin组及卡托普利组低。卡托普利组及QXLmin组健存心肌细胞周围胶原组织明显减少,QXLmax组病理改变最轻,偶有少量胶原纤维增生。TGF-β1表达QXLmax组较QXLmin组及卡托普利组低(P<0.01)。结论强心通脉灵可降低AMI后大鼠血浆AngⅡ水平,增加SOD活性,降低左心室质量指数及心肌组织TGF-β1表达,从而平稳AMI后VR的进程。     

Diabetes mellitus and open heart surgery

A method, based on bedside determinations of blood glucose by nursing staff, was designed to control the administration of insulin to diabetic patients during and following open heart surgery. A computer-controlled intravenous infusion pump was used to deliver the insulin. Excellent control of the hyperglycaemia normally associated with open heart surgery was achieved, with 84 percent of measured blood glucose values falling within 2 mmol/litre of the target value of 6 mmol/litre. The method proved to be simple, effective, and safe.     

Detection of Atrial Fibrillation by Implanted Devices with Wireless Data Transmission Capability

Remote telemetry may facilitate the management of implantable devices. We tested the reliability of a new automatic, wireless home monitoring (HM) system that archives data every 24 hours. We retrospectively analyzed archival data from 276 consecutive pacing system implants to define temporal atrial fibrillation (AF) patterns and associated ventricular rate. An "AF day" was defined by a >20%/24 hour mode switch (MS) duration, irrespective of the MS number. Management decisions resulting from transmissions were noted. A pilot study confirmed that 89% of 22,356 transmissions were successful, of which >90% were received in <5 minutes. Data integrity was 100% preserved. Overall, AF developed in 29 patients (10.5%), representing a total of 645 AF days (mean = 22.2 ± 29.6 AF, median = 9 days), over 12 ± 2 months of monitoring. AF was infrequent (50% of 24 hours. Ventricular rates during 645 AF days in 29 patients averaged 95.1 ± 9.9 beats/min (median = 94 beats/min). Ventricular rates were >80 beats/min in 25 ± 30 AF days (median = 11 days). HM enabled rapid anticoagulation decisions. In recipients of implantable devices, automatic wireless telemetry with HM was efficient and reliable. Its application may overcome some current challenges in AF management by early notification and precise measurement of both AF burden and ventricular rate during AF.     

乳剂依托咪酯对心脏手术病人麻醉诱导期循环功能的影响

目的　本文应用乳剂依托咪酯,观察其对心脏手术病人麻醉诱导期的循环影响。方法　选择心脏手术病人80例,心功能Ⅲ～Ⅳ级,随机分为两组,每组2 0例:Ⅰ组(水剂组) :水剂依托咪酯0 2 5mg kg-1;Ⅱ组(乳剂组) :乳剂依托咪酯0 2 5mg kg-1。记录麻醉前、注射依托咪酯前、后,气管插管后1min和3min时段的各监测参数。观察不自主肌肉颤动,注射疼痛感及过敏反应等不良反应。结果　显示两种剂型的依托咪酯各时间点的SBP、DBP、MAP、HR各组间无显著差异(P >0 0 5 )。两组在注射依托咪酯后SBP、DBP、MAP、HR轻度下降,但与注射前均无统计学差异(P >0 0 5 )。不自主肌肉运动Ⅰ组8例、Ⅱ组6例:两组间无显著差异(P >0 0 5 )。静脉注射处疼痛Ⅰ组14例、Ⅱ组1例,两组间显著差异(P >0 0 5 )。结论　乳剂依托咪酯具有麻醉诱导平稳,心血管影响轻微,副作用少在应用上优于水剂依托咪酯,可用于高龄及心脏功能受损害患者的麻醉诱导。