Return to work after coronary artery surgery for angina.

The working habits of 115 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery vein bypass grafting for angina were assessed. Only 25 patients worked up to the operation. Seven patients were housewives and seven retired. Sixty-eight patients had had to give up work because of their angina pectoris, and most of these had been off work for between six months and two years. After the operation 75 patients returned to full-time work, 59 within two to six months. These 75 patients included 23 of the 25 at work preoperatively and 47 of the 68 unable to work preoperatively. Most patients returned to their original occupation. We conclude that coronary artery surgery, as well as bringing symptomatic relief, increases the patient''s ability to return to and maintain gainful employment.     

Influence of aortocoronary bypass surgery on employment.

Aortocoronary bypass operations are expensive. Economic benefit might be derived if such operations influenced the ability of persons with symptomatic coronary artery disease to be employed. Follow-up data were obtained for 329 survivors of bypass operations 2 to 60 months (mean, 22.9 months) postoperatively; 178 had been working prior to the operation and 213 were working at the time of follow-up, for a net gain of 35 employed patients. Therefore, bypass surgery does lead to a small but significant increase in the proportion of angina patients who are employed.     

Occupational Health Practice

The working status of 1165 patients aged 59 years or less (mean 49.8 years) was evaluated 7 to 77 months (mean 36 months) after aortocoronary bypass surgery. Although 76% of the patients eventually returned to work, only 56% were working 6 months after their operation. The proportion of patients working peaked at 2 years after the operation (at 66%) and decreased progressively to 56% at 4 years and 53% at 5 years without ever reaching the proportions that applied 12 and 6 months before the operation (84% and 69% respectively). Multivariate analysis identified three socioeconomic and three clinical variables as predicting the working status at 6 months and at yearly points during the first 4 years after the operation. Of the socioeconomic variables analysed, preoperative unemployment of long duration, a preoperative occupation that required strenuous physical effort and a low level of education were, in that order, the strongest predictors of postoperative unemployment. Among the clinical variables, associated noncardiovascular illness and the severity and duration of angina pectoris independently influenced the patients'' post-operative working status. The authors conclude that modification of some of these variables should by attempted both before and after aortocoronary bypass surgery to see whether the rate of return to employment after the operation can be improved in selected patients.     

Elderly and younger patients selected to undergo coronary angiography.

OBJECTIVE--To establish and compare the characteristics of older (greater than or equal to 70 years) and younger patients with chest pain selected to undergo coronary angiography and by analysis of their subsequent management to assess the value of coronary angiography for older patients with chest pain. DESIGN--Retrospective analysis of clinical case notes and coronary angiography reports. SETTING--Cardiology department with referral population of one million in an Edinburgh hospital. PATIENTS--134 consecutive patients with chest pain aged 70 years or over investigated by coronary angiography between 1978 and 1988; 134 randomly selected patients aged under 70 investigated over the same period. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Clinical and angiographic features at time of angiography and management after angiography. RESULTS--Older patients represented a small, but increasing, proportion of those investigated. Older patients had more severe symptoms at the time of angiography, were taking more antianginal drugs, and had had their symptoms for longer than younger patients. At angiography more older patients had triple vessel coronary disease, left main stem stenosis, or left ventricular impairment. After angiography similar proportions of older and younger patients underwent coronary artery surgery, with more elderly patients requiring urgent operation; although operative mortality was higher for elderly patients, symptomatic benefit was similar to that in younger patients. CONCLUSIONS--Older patients with angina selected to undergo coronary angiography and subsequent coronary surgery have more severe symptoms and underlying cardiac disease. Earlier referral and investigation might yield a population with lower operative risk. Selection of patients for coronary angiography and coronary artery surgery should be based on the potential for benefit and should avoid "agism."     

Selection and care of cardiac patients for plastic surgery

A major operation after successful coronary artery bypass surgery has been proved as safe as an operation for a patient free from coronary artery disease. Most patients with angina who demonstrate an operable coronary lesion should usually be scheduled for coronary artery bypass before undergoing nonemergency surgery. It is advisable to postpone elective plastic surgery for 6 weeks to 3 months after coronary bypass and 6 months after myocardial infarction. The life expectancy of cardiac patients must be carefully considered before elective plastic surgery, because performing an operation on a patient who cannot live to enjoy the benefits is unwise. Working together, cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and plastic surgeons can now prolong the quantity of life and enrich its quality in properly selected and carefully managed patients.     

Late results of aortocoronary bypass grafts in 100 patients with stable angina pectoris

From March 1969 to December 1972, 314 patients underwent elective aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass graft surgery at the Toronto General Hospital for the relief of stable disabling angina refractory to medical management. Inhospital mortality was 2.5%. Of these patients 100 agreed to return for follow-up hemodynamic and angiographic assessment at a mean interval of 19.7 months after operation. Seventy-four percent of patients were asymptomatic or had angina only with strenuous exertion at the time of follow-up. Seventy-five percent of the 142 grafts were patent, though a few had significant narrowings. Clinical improvement could be correlated with successful myocardial revascularization. Myocardial infarction was diagnosed by the presence of new Q waves after operation in 15% of patients. Many of these patients had patent grafts at follow-up and all were improved. Dyslipoproteinemia was not found to be a factor affecting late graft patency. Total left ventricular function was not shown to be improved by segmental revascularization. The trend toward improved survival in the intervening period for the total operated group is encouraging.     

Revascularization of the Entire Heart by Internal Mammary Artery Implantation,Epicardiectomy and Free Omental Graft

The indications for and the contraindications to total cardiac revascularization are described on the basis of the author''s experience. The combined operation of internal mammary artery implant, epicardiectomy and free omental graft was performed on 62 patients. Of 45 who did not have angina at rest without exciting cause (Grade I) 39 showed improvement; 32 returned to full-time work, 18 of whom had been unable to work before operation. There were two operative deaths. Among the 17 patients who were “bed-chair cripples” (angina at rest without cause-Grade II), there was a 24% operative mortality (four deaths), but 76% of the survivors had marked improvement. Only one of this group had been working full-time preoperatively; now nine are working full-time.     

Is population screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm cost-effective?

Background

The adverse effects of tobacco abuse on cardiovascular outcomes are well-known. However, the impact of passive smoke exposure on angina status and therapeutic response is less well-established. We examined the impact of second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure on symptomatic improvement in patients with chronic ischemic coronary disease undergoing enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP).

Methods

This observational study included 1,026 non-smokers (108 exposed and 918 not-exposed to SHS) from the Second International EECP Patient Registry. We also assessed angina response in 363 current smokers. Patient demographics, symptomatic improvement and quality of life assessment were determined by self-report prior and after EECP treatment.

Results

Non-smoking SHS subjects had a lower prevalence of prior revascularization (85% vs 90%), and had an increased prevalence of stroke (13% vs 7%) and prior smoking (72% vs 61%; all p < 0.05) compared to non-smokers without SHS exposure. Despite comparable degrees of coronary disease, baseline angina class, medical regimens and side effects during EECP, fewer SHS non-smokers completed a full 35-hour treatment course (77% vs 85%, p = 0.020) compared to non-smokers without SHS. Compared to non-smokers without SHS, non-smoking SHS subjects had less angina relief after EECP (angina class decreased ≥ 1 class: 68% vs 79%; p = 0.0082), both higher than that achieved in current smokers (66%). By multivariable logistic regression, SHS exposure was an independent predictor of failure to symptomatic improvement after EECP among non-smokers (OR 1.81, 95% confidence intervals 1.16–2.83).

Conclusion

Non-smokers with SHS exposure had an attenuated improvement in anginal symptoms compared to those without SHS following EECP.     

Evolution précoce et tardive après pontage aortocoronarien: expérience de 500 cas.

Between 1971 and 1976, 500 patients underwent aortocoronary bypass surgery. There were 15 operative deaths (3%) and the total frequency of perioperative infarction was 7%. The operative mortality was 7.4% in unstable angina, as compared with 1.1% in stable angina (P less than 0.01). The proportion of grafts patent at 2 weeks was 92% and at 18 months 87.6%. Postoperative follow-up was complete for 99% of the patients. There were 15 late deaths (3%) and the rates of survival at 2 and 4 years were 94.4% and 92.1% respectively. The actuarial curve of survival after surgery was not significantly different from that of the general population. After a mean follow-up of 27 months 73% of the patients were completely free of angina and 19% were markedly improved. The rate of recurrence of angina averaged 10% per year and the annual infarction rate was 0.7%. Fourteen patients (3%) underwent reoperation during the follow-up period. Thus, coronary revascularization surgery offers effective and sustained relief of incapacitating angina and might also improve survival if the operative mortality is low.     

Effect of Pregnancy for Females Born Small on Later Life Metabolic Disease Risk

There is a strong inverse relationship between a females own birth weight and her subsequent risk for gestational diabetes with increased risk of developing diabetes later in life. We have shown that growth restricted females develop loss of glucose tolerance during late pregnancy with normal pancreatic function. The aim of this study was to determine whether growth restricted females develop long-term impairment of metabolic control after an adverse pregnancy adaptation. Uteroplacental insufficiency was induced by bilateral uterine vessel ligation (Restricted) or sham surgery (Control) in late pregnancy (E18) in F0 female rats. F1 Control and Restricted female offspring were mated with normal males and allowed to deliver (termed Ex-Pregnant). Age-matched Control and Restricted Virgins were also studied and glucose tolerance and insulin secretion were determined. Pancreatic morphology and hepatic glycogen and triacylglycerol content were quantified respectively. Restricted females were born lighter than Control and remained lighter at all time points studied (p<0.05). Glucose tolerance, first phase insulin secretion and liver glycogen and triacylglycerol content were not different across groups, with no changes in β-cell mass. Second phase insulin secretion was reduced in Restricted Virgins (−34%, p<0.05) compared to Control Virgins, suggestive of enhanced peripheral insulin sensitivity but this was lost after pregnancy. Growth restriction was associated with enhanced basal hepatic insulin sensitivity, which may provide compensatory benefits to prevent adverse metabolic outcomes often associated with being born small. A prior pregnancy was associated with reduced hepatic insulin sensitivity with effects more pronounced in Controls than Restricted. Our data suggests that pregnancy ameliorates the enhanced peripheral insulin sensitivity in growth restricted females and has deleterious effects for hepatic insulin sensitivity, regardless of maternal birth weight.     

Is laparoscopic nephropexy improving the quality of life

Short- and long-term effectiveness of laparoscopic nephropexy was evaluated in patients with symptomatic nephroptosis especially quality of life of the patients and repositioning of the ptotic kidney. In 87 patients with symptomatic nephroptosis laparoscopic nephropexy was performed from 1994 to 2003. In 86 patients trans-abdominal approach was used and retroperitoneal in one patient. Visual pain scale was used for pain evaluation before surgery and six month after surgery. At the same period creatinine serum concentration, urine examination, i.v. urography and ultrasound in supine and erect position was made. There was statistical significant decrease of pain from 6.5 +/- 1.055 (SD) to 2.4 +/- 1.577 (SD) (p = 0.000), according to visual scale, and decrease of urinary tract infections (p = 0.000) in patients after laparoscopic nephropexy. Average operative time was 45.9 +/- 8 (SD) min., and hospital stay 3.4 +/- 0.7 (SD) days. Reposition of the kidney was successful in 70 of 80 patients. Laparoscopic nephropexy importantly improved the quality of life in patients with symptomatic nephroptosis. Surgical procedure was safe and successful in most of the patients.     

Symptomatic relief precedes improvement of myocardial blood flow in patients under spinal cord stimulation

Background

Spinal cord electrical stimulation (SCS) has shown to be a treatment option for patients suffering from angina pectoris CCS III-IV although being on optimal medication and not suitable for conventional treatment strategies, e.g. CABG or PTCA. Although many studies demonstrated a clear symptomatic relief under SCS therapy, there are only a few short-term studies that investigated alterations in cardiac ischemia. Therefore doubts remain whether SCS has a direct effect on myocardial perfusion.

Methods

A prospective study to investigate the short- and long-term effect of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) on myocardial ischemia in patients with refractory angina pectoris and coronary multivessel disease was designed. Myocardial ischemia was measured by MIBI-SPECT scintigraphy 3 months and 12 months after the beginning of neurostimulation. To further examine the relation between cardiac perfusion and functional status of the patients we measured exercise capacity (bicycle ergometry and 6-minute walk test), symptoms and quality of life (Seattle Angina Questionnaire [SAQ]), as well.

Results

31 patients (65 ± 11 SEM years; 25 male, 6 female) were included into the study. The average consumption of short acting nitrates (SAN) decreased rapidly from 12 ± 1.6 times to 3 ± 1 times per week. The walking distance and the maximum workload increased from 143 ± 22 to 225 ± 24 meters and 68 ± 7 to 96 ± 12 watt after 3 months. Quality of life increased (SAQ) significantly after 3 month compared to baseline, as well. No further improvement was observed after one year of treament. Despite the symptomatic relief and the improvement in maximal workload computer based analysis (Emory Cardiac Toolbox) of the MIBI-SPECT studies after 3 months of treatment did not show significant alterations of myocardial ischemia compared to baseline (16 patients idem, 7 with increase and 6 with decrease of ischemia, 2 patients dropped out during initial test phase). Interestingly, in the long-term follow up after one year 16 patients (of 27 who completed the one year follow up) showed a clear decrease of myocardial ischemia and only one patient still had an increase of ischemia compared to baseline.

Conclusion

Thus, spinal cord stimulation not only relieves symptoms, but reduces myocardial ischemia as well. However, since improvement in symptoms and exercise capacity starts much earlier, decreased myocardial ischemia might not be a direct effect of neurostimulation but rather be due to a better coronary collateralisation because of an enhanced physical activity of the patients.     

Inoperable aortic stenosis in the elderly: benefit from percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty.

Eight patients with severe symptomatic calcific aortic stenosis were considered to be unsuitable for valve replacement. Four were admitted with pulmonary oedema and three in cardiogenic shock and one had angina at rest. With the use of echocardiographic and radiographic guidance percutaneous transluminal aortic valvuloplasty was carried out. Aortic gradients were reduced by an average of 40%. All four patients who presented with cardiac failure improved immediately and remained well six months later. The patient with angina was symptom free at nine months. Two of the three patients who presented in cardiogenic shock improved immediately and were well nine and three months later. The other patient died four hours after the procedure. Doppler echocardiographic studies showed a slight initial increase in aortic incompetence, but this did not worsen and valvar gradients remained improved three and six months later. Percutaneous valvuloplasty of the aortic valve is an effective therapeutic option in patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis who are unfit for surgery. Its role as an alternative to surgery has not been considered and should be investigated in a controlled clinical trial.     

Prognosis of new and worsening angina pectoris.

The natural history of new and worsening angina pectoris was studied in 251 men aged under 70 years. Most were ambulant and all were referred by selected general practitioners to a special hospital clinic over two and a half years. Heart attacks developed in 39 patients, nine of whom died. Seventy-two per cent of the attacks occurred within six weeks of the onset or worsening of angina. Of the 212 patients who did not suffer myocardial infarction and who were clinically reviewed six months after their first attendance 66 had been pain free for the previous three months and 14 had experienced only infrequent attacks of angina. Of the 128 men aged under 65 years who were previously in employment 81% had returned to full-time work six months after their first attendance. A discriminant function analysis using many variables was made to develop a predictive index that would allow patients with new or worsening angina who were likely to develop serious cardiac complications to be identified. This did not prove possible, and the only predictive factor of significance was an increased cardiothoracic ratio. The syndrome of new and worsening angina has a low risk of early death, and many patients are symptom free six months later. In general, emergency coronary arteriography and surgery is not indicated.     

Recurrence after surgical treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa.

From six to 89 months after surgery 82 patients who had been treated by radical surgery (118 excisions) for intractable hidradenitis suppurativa were reviewed. Local recurrence rates varied greatly with the disease site, being low after axillary (3%) and perianal surgery (0%) and high after inguinoperineal (37%) and submammary (50%) excision. Recurrence results from inadequate excision or an unusually wide distribution of apocrine glands, but physical factors such as obesity, local pressure, and skin maceration played a part in a few patients. Recurrence due to inadequate surgery tended to be the most troublesome. At follow up 75 (91%) of the patients were pleased with the results of their operation. A quarter of the patients developed disease at a new anatomical site after operation. Radical surgery gives good symptomatic control of severe hidradenitis suppurativa of the axilla, inguinoperineal, and perianal regions but is less satisfactory for submammary disease.     

术中肋间神经阻滞对肋骨骨折患者机体应激反应、血流动力学及术后生活质量的影响

摘要 目的：前瞻性研究术中肋间神经阻滞（IINB）对肋骨骨折（RF）患者机体应激反应、血流动力学及生活质量的影响。方法：选择2017年1月-2021年12月于成都医学院第一附属医院行胸腔镜手术治疗的RF患者70例,依据随机数字表法分为IINB组（n=35）与对照组（n=35）。对照组行静吸复合全麻,IINB组于对照组基础上行IINB。观察两组手术前（T0）,手术开始5 min（T1）、15 min（T2）、30 min（T3）及手术结束时（T4）平均动脉压（MAP）、心率（HR）等血流动力学指标;术后恢复情况;术后6 h、12 h、24 h、48 h疼痛情况及镇痛补救率;术后1 d、3 d、7 d生存质量;术后3 d并发症等指标。结果：IINB组各时点MAP、HR均低于对照组（P＜0.05）。IINB组进食恢复时间、首次下床活动时间、留置胸管时间、术后住院时间均短于对照组（P＜0.05）。IINB组术后6 h、12 h、24 h、48 h VAS评分均低于对照组（P＜0.05）;IINB组镇痛补救率20.00%（7/35）低于对照组42.86%（15/35）（P＜0.05）。IINB组术后1 d、3 d、7 d各项生存质量评分均高于对照组（P＜0.05）。IINB组术后3 d并发症发生率2.86%（1/35）低于对照组22.86%（8/35）（P＜0.05）。结论：IINB可有效缓解RF患者疼痛及机体应激反应,维持术中血流动力学的稳定性,有效缓解术后疼痛,促进患者术后恢复,提高其生活质量,减少术后并发症。     

Increased food intake and changes in metabolic hormones in response to chronic sleep restriction alternated with short periods of sleep allowance

Rodent models for sleep restriction have good face validity when examining food intake and related regulatory metabolic hormones. However, in contrast to epidemiological studies in which sleep restriction is associated with body weight gain, sleep-restricted rats show a decrease in body weight. This difference with the human situation might be caused by the alternation between periods of sleep restriction and sleep allowance that often occur in real life. Therefore, we assessed the metabolic consequences of a chronic sleep restriction protocol that modeled working weeks with restricted sleep time alternated by weekends with sleep allowance. We hypothesized that this protocol could lead to body weight gain. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sleep restriction (SR), forced activity control (FA), and home cage control (HC). SR rats were subjected to chronic sleep restriction by keeping them awake for 20 h per day in slowly rotating drums. To model the human condition, rats were subjected to a 4-wk protocol, with each week consisting of a 5-day period of sleep restriction followed by a 2-day period of sleep allowance. During the first experimental week, SR caused a clear attenuation of growth. In subsequent weeks, two important processes occurred: 1) a remarkable increase in food intake during SR days, 2) an increase in weight gain during the weekends of sleep allowance, even though food intake during those days was comparable to controls. In conclusion, our data revealed that the alternation between periods of sleep restriction and sleep allowance leads to complex changes in food intake and body weight, that prevent the weight loss normally seen in continuous sleep-restricted rats. Therefore, this "week-weekend" protocol may be a better model to study the metabolic consequences of restricted sleep.     

Expectations of myocardial revascularization.

Surgical treatment of coronary artery disease has been under development for more than 35 years, during which time it has been met with considerable enthusiasm. As the surgical risk decreases, indications for coronary bypass procedures are being liberalized somewhat and increasing numbers of patients are being referred for surgical treatment. The most immediate benefit of such treatment is prompt relief from angina and improvement in the quality of life. Other benefits for various patient subgroups are improvement in left ventricular function and prolonged life. Further experience and controlled studies gradually will elucidate further indications for coronary artery bypass surgery and will result in improved evaluation of this treatment.     

Outcome of elective prostatectomy.

OBJECTIVES--To determine the symptomatic and urodynamic outcome of elective prostatectomy and to establish whether the outcome is influenced or can be predicted by preoperative urodynamic measurements. DESIGN--Prospective non-randomised study with follow up at a mean of 11 months after operation. Most men were assessed jointly by a urologist and a general practitioner. SETTING--Department of urology in a teaching hospital serving a large district population. PATIENTS--253 Men listed for elective prostatectomy because of symptoms and low urinary flow rates (less than 15 ml/s) and excluding those already on a waiting list or with acute urinary retention, clinically apparent prostatic cancer, and neurological or cerebrovascular disease; 217 (86%) were followed up. INTERVENTION--Elective prostatectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Classification on the basis of relief of symptoms assessed by patients and urologist and general practitioner and of symptom scores obtained by questionnaire. RESULTS--Of the 217 men followed up, 171 (79%) had a satisfactory subjective review and 155 (72%) had a satisfactory review and also low symptom scores. An unsatisfactory outcome was associated with preoperative symptoms of urge incontinence, small prostatic size and resected weight, low voiding pressures, and low urethral resistance. Preoperative maximum urinary flow rates did not predict outcome. Men with poor outcome could be classified into two groups: those with irritative symptoms who were more likely before operation to have had urge incontinence and detrusor instability and men with symptoms of poor urinary flow who were more likely before operation to have had a small prostate, low voiding pressures, and low urethral resistance. In patients in the second group flow rates or voiding pressures improved little after operation. Men with stable detrusors and either low urethral resistance or low voiding pressures were less likely to do well after prostatectomy, but despite these associations preoperative urodynamic measurements were unable to predict outcome accurately. CONCLUSIONS--Prostatectomy was satisfactory in relieving symptoms and improving urodynamic measurements in most men, but even in those with classic symptoms and low urinary flow rates a substantial minority experienced little improvement afterwards and urodynamic measurements did not accurately predict outcome in individual patients.     

腹腔镜探查并治疗腹部恶性肿瘤术后肠梗阻的临床研究

目的:探讨腹腔镜辅助探查并治疗腹部恶性肿瘤术后肠梗阻患者的可行性及安全性。方法:应用腹腔镜技术对我院42例腹部恶性肿瘤术后患者行手术治疗,其中包括良性粘连性肠梗阻14例、肿瘤复发16例、原发性结肠癌1例、恶性肠粘连11例。结果:42例患者均在腹腔镜下明确诊断,其中18例患者在完全腹腔镜下手术治疗,13例患者在腹腔镜辅助下行手术治疗,6例患者腹腔严重粘连中转开腹手术治疗,5例患者腹腔广泛转移行保守治疗。腹腔镜手术时间为35~290min,平均住院日9.2±1.7d。患者术后疼痛较轻、下床活动时间及肠道功能恢复时间短、术后并发症少。结论:恶性肿瘤术后肠梗阻患者仍需手术治疗,在严格掌握手术适应症下,应用腹腔镜技术对恶性肿瘤术后肠梗阻病人的治疗是安全、可行的。