Frank Barrera

Cardiovascular and respiratory studies on skin divers following physical training.

Twenty-seven scuba divers were studied to determine the level of physical fitness before and after four months’ training. Studies included an exercise-tolerance step test, vital capacity (VC), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), functional residual capacity (FRC), total lung capacity (TLC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), residual volume (RV), resting and stress blood pressure (BP), and the reflex bradycardia associated with diving. The results revealed an improvement In conditioning as measured by the step test. The ratio of RV to TLC diminished; MVV, VC and ERV increased. Resting BP diminished in both conditioned and unconditioned groups. Resting pulse rate did not change. Bradycardia with face submersion was found to be prominent in the conditioned group, although statistical significance was borderline. A short training period appears useful in improving physiologic functions of divers and is suggested as a safety measure.

Human hypertension due to thrombotic occlusion of both renal arteries: Report of a case “cured” by surgical removal of the thrombus

Abstract Presented is a case of severe hypertension with frequent paroxysmal crises of hypertension and acute pulmonary edema on the basis of bilateral renal ischemia. Continuous intravenous treatment with large doses of Arfonad abolished the paroxysmal crisis and the pulmonary edema. Some unusual features of the response of the blood pressure to this ganglionic blocking agent are discussed and considered useful in the diagnosis of hypertension due to renal ischemia. Removal of the offending aortic thrombus which extended from above the entrance of both renal arteries to the terminal aorta was followed by a reduction in the level of the blood presure, profuse diuresis, and “cure.”

Pulmonary "Capillary" Pressure and Its Relation To Left Auricular and Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Mitral Stenosis

1 Presented at the First Cuban Angiological Meeting, at Havana, February 27, 1954. 2 Cardiologists of the Instituto de Cirugia Cardiovascular, Havana, Cuba. Director Antonio Rodriguez Diaz, M.D. Since Hellems, Dow and Gorlin (1), Lagerlbf and Werk6 (2) published the results of their work on pulmonary &dquo;capillary&dquo; pressure (wedge pressure) a great many authors have considered the tracings obtained when a catheter is wedged in a small branch of the pulmonary artery as representing &dquo;capillary&dquo;