Willard M. Daggett

Cardiovascular Response to Large Doses of Intravenous Morphine in Man

Abstract Large doses of intravenous morphine (0.5 to 3.0 mg per kilogram of body weight) were used alone or in combination with inhalation anesthetic agents for anesthesia in over 1100 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Morphine, 1 mg per kilogram, was administered intravenously to seven subjects with aortic-valve disease and eight without major heart or lung disease. The cardiac subjects had higher control pulse rates and lower control stroke indexes than the normal subjects. In the cardiac but not in the normal subjects, significant increases in cardiac index, stroke index, central venous pressure, and pulmonary-artery pressure, and a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance, were observed after morphine was administered, suggesting that large doses of morphine may be used with safety in patients with minimal circulatory reserve.

Ventricular septal rupture: a review of clinical and physiologic features and an analysis of survival.

Forty-one patients with postinfarction ventricular septal rupture were cared for in our hospital during 1971–1975. Cardiogenic shock developed after septal rupture in 55% of these patients. Shock was unrelated to site of infarction, extent of coronary artery disease, left ventricular ejection fraction, or pulmonaryto-systemic flow ratio, but mean pulmonary artery pressure was lower in shock than in nonshock patients. These observations suggest that shock was produced mainly by right ventricular impairment. Perioperative survival was much higher in patients who did not have shock preoperatively (14 of 17 [82%]) than in those who did (three of 11 [27%]). Magnitude of shunt, left ventricular ejection fraction, extent of coronary artery disease, and performance of aortocoronary bypass grafting were not distinctly correlated with perioperative survival. After a minimum 4-year follow-up, 76% of the perioperative survivors are alive, and none suffer more than New York Heart Association functional class II disability. All 13 unoperated patients (11 in shock) died within 3 months.

Cardiac operations in patients 80 years old and older.

BACKGROUND Because the elderly are increasingly referred for operation, we reviewed results with cardiac surgical patients 80 years old or older. METHODS Records of 600 consecutive patients 80 years old or older having cardiac operations between 1985 and 1995 were reviewed. Follow-up was 99% complete. RESULTS Two hundred ninety-two patients had coronary grafting (CABG), 105 aortic valve replacement (AVR), 111 AVR + CABG, 42 mitral valve repair/ replacement (MVR) +/- CABG, and 50 other operations. Rates of hospital death, stroke, and prolonged stay (> 14 days) were as follows: CABG: 17 (5.8%), 23 (7.9%) and 91 (31.2%); AVR: 8 (7.6%), 1 (1.0%), and 31 (29.5%); AVR + CABG: 7 (6.3%), 12 (10.8%), and 57 (51.4%); MVR +/- CABG: 4 (9.5%), 3 (7.1%), and 16 (38.1%); other: 9 (18.0%), 3 (6.0%), and 23 (46.0%). Multivariate predictors (p < 0.05) of hospital death were chronic lung disease, postoperative stroke, preoperative intraaortic balloon, and congestive heart failure; predictors of stroke were CABG and carotid disease; and predictors of prolonged stay were postoperative stroke and New York Heart Association class. Actuarial 5-year survival was as follows: CABG, 66%; AVR, 67%; AVR + CABG, 59%; MVR +/- CABG, 57%; other, 48%; and total, 63%. Multivariate predictors of late death were renal insufficiency, postoperative stroke, chronic lung disease, and congestive heart failure. Eighty-seven percent of patients believed having a heart operation after age 80 years was a good choice. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac operations are successful in most octogenarians with increased hospital mortality, postoperative stroke, and longer hospital stay. Long-term survival is largely determined by concurrent medical diseases.

Acute Traumatic Disruption of the Thoracic Aorta: A Ten-Year Experience

During a ten-year period, 44 patients were treated for acute traumatic disruption of the thoracic aorta. Of the 44 patients, 21 had operative repair within 48 hours of injury (Group 1); 14 patients had operative therapy electively delayed for 2 to 79 days (Group 2); 5 had operative therapy electively delayed indefinitely (Group 3); 2 had immediate operative repair when a delayed diagnosis was made at 21 and 56 days, respectively (Group 4); 1 patient died during angiography and 1 refused operation (Group 5). Mortality was as follows: Group 1, 24%; Group 2, 14% Group 3, 0; Group 4, 100%; and Group 5, 100%. All operative deaths occurred in the subgroup of 23 patients in whom left heart bypass was utilized. Immediate operative intervention with a heparinized shunt is preferable as soon as the diagnosis of thoracic aortic disruption has been established, but elective delay of operation in patients with severe concomitant injuries can be achieved safely with beta blockade and antihypertensive therapy.

Acute pancreatitis: Analysis of factors influencing survival

Of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), there remains a group who suffer life-threatening complications despite current modes of therapy. To identify factors which distinguish this group from the entire patient population, a retrospectiva analysis of 519 cases of AP occurring over a 5-year period was undertaken. Thirty-one per cent of these patients had a history of alcoholism and 47% had a history of biliary disease. The overall mortality was 12.9%. Of symptoms and signs recorded at the time of admission, hypotension, tachycardia, fever, abdominal mass, and abnormal examination of the lung fields correlated positively with increased mortality. Seven features of the initial laboratory examination correlated with increased mortality. Shock, massive colloid requirement, hypocalcemia, renal failure, and respiratory failure requiring endotracheal intubation were complications associated with the poorest prognosis. Among patients in this series with three or more of these clinical characteristics, maximal nonoperative treatment yielded a survival rate of 29%, compared to the 64% survival rate for a group of patients treated operatively with cholecystostomy, gastrostomy, feeding jejunostomy, and sump drainage of the lesser sac and retroperitoneum.

Mitral valve reconstruction versus replacement for degenerative or ischemic mitral regurgitation

Between January 1985 and June 1992, 263 consecutive patients had mitral valve reconstruction (133 patients) or replacement (130 patients) for degenerative or ischemic mitral regurgitation. The two groups were similar in sex, age, prior infarctions or cardiac operations, hypertension, angina, and functional class. Both groups were similar in mean ejection fraction, pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index, and incidence of coronary artery disease. More reconstruction than replacement patients had ischemic etiology (22 [16%] versus 12 [9%]; p = not significant), and fewer reconstruction patients had ruptured anterior leaflet chordae (9 [7%] versus 39 [30%]; p < 0.01). More reconstruction than replacement patients had concomitant cardiac procedures (67 [50%] versus 59 [45%]; p = not significant). Hospital death occurred in 4 reconstruction patients (3%) and 15 (12%) replacement patients (p < 0.01). Median postoperative stay was shorter in reconstruction patients (10 versus 12 days; p = 0.02). Late valve-related death occurred in 3 reconstruction patients (2%) and 8 (6%) replacement patients (p = 0.08). Six-year actuarial freedom from thromboembolism was 92% for the reconstruction group and 85% for the replacement group (p = 0.12). Freedom from all valve-related morbidity and mortality was 85% for the reconstruction patients and 73% for the replacement patients (p = 0.03). Significant multivariate predictors of hospital death were age, mitral valve replacement, functional class, congestive heart failure, no posterior chordal rupture, and nonelective operation. Mitral valve reconstruction, when technically feasible, is the procedure of choice for degenerative or ischemic mitral regurgitation because of significantly lower hospital mortality and late valve-related events.

Surgery for post-myocardial infarct ventricular septal defect.

Forty-three patients (mean age 62 ± 1 years) were treated for ventricular septal defect (VSD) secondary to myocardial infarction. Whenever possible, operation was postponed until six weeks post-onset chest pain. However, hemodynamic instability, evidenced by cardiogenic shock, refractory pulmonary edema, or a rising blood urea nitrogen (BUN) forced operation in 21 patients within 21 days post-infarct (Group I). In seven patients operation was performed three to six weeks post-infarct (Group II). In only eight patients could operation be delayed beyond six weeks post-infarct (Group III). Clinical deterioration, once begun, progressed rapidly, and could be reversed only temporarily by intra-aortic balloon pumping, used in 26 patients for safe conduct of cardiac catheterization and for peri-operative hemodynamic support. Hospital survival was achieved in 24 of the 36 operated patients (66%). In Group I patients, ten of 21 survived. In Group II, six of seven survived. In Group III, eight of eight patients survived. There have been five late deaths with a mean follow-up of 41 months in survivors. Improved survival has been achieved recently by the greater use of prosthetic material to replace necrotic muscle and by a transinfarct incision regardless of infarct location. Operative mortality before 1973 was 47%; mortality after 1973 was only 18%, with a concomitant reduction of mortality (30%) even in Group I patients.

Mitral valve replacement for isolated mitral regurgitation: analysis of clinical course and late postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction.

One hundred five patients underwent mitral valve replacement for relief of isolated mitral regurgitation between 1974 and 1979. There were 4 in-hospital deaths (4 percent) and 12 late deaths giving an 82 percent predicted 5 year survival rate. An age of 60 years or more at the time of surgery and a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 0.40 were the only variables that correlated with decreased survival at 3 to 5 years after operation (p less than 0.05). Postoperatively, 87 (98 percent) of 89 long-term survivors were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II (68 in class I and 19 in class II). Survival did not differ between patients with porcine versus mechanical valve replacement, but patients with a mechanical valve had a greater incidence of postoperative cerebrovascular accident (8.6/100 patient years) than did patients with a porcine valve (2.8/100 patient years) (p less than 0.002). Ejection fraction at rest was determined with multigated cardiac imaging 12 to 75 months postoperatively in 34 of 89 long-term survivors. The mean preoperative ejection fraction was 0.62 +/- 0.09 (mean +/- 1 standard deviation) and the mean postoperative ejection fraction was 0.50 +/- 0.15 (p less than 0.001). When the preoperative value was compared with the postoperative value at rest the ejection fraction increased by 0.10 or more in 1 patient (3 percent), remained within +/- 0.09 of the preoperative value in 12 patients (35 percent) and decreased by 0.10 or greater in 21 patients (62 percent). Sixteen (94 percent) of 17 patients whose postoperative ejection fraction was greater than 0.50 were in functional class I postoperatively compared with 11 (65 percent) of 17 patients whose postoperative ejection fraction was 0.50 or less (p less than 0.05). No preoperative factor, including preoperative ejection fraction or cardiothoracic ratio, predicted the postoperative ejection fraction. A postoperative exercise ejection fraction was obtained in 29 patients, and an abnormal ejection fraction change with exercise (increase less than 0.05) was observed in 20 patients (69 percent). Patient age at the time of study correlated inversely with the change in ejection fraction from rest to exercise; no other variables were predictive. It is concluded that, in addition to age, only preoperative left ventricular function as measured by ejection fraction predicts survival in patients undergoing mitral valve replacement for isolated mitral regurgitation. Clinical recovery is good even though the majority of long-term survivors have a postoperative decrease in ejection fraction.

Effects of Intra-Aortic Balloon Counterpulsation on Cardiac Performance, Oxygen Consumption, and Coronary Blood Flow in Dogs

The effect of intra-aortic Counterpulsation (IACP) with a balloon upon myocardial oxygen consumption (MV·o2), coronary blood flow (TCF), and left ventricular performance was studied in 23 anesthetized canine right heart bypass preparations at constant heart rate and cardiac output. In nonhypotensive, nonTCF-limited preparations, IACP produced a fall in left ventricular peak systolic pressure (LVP) and a decrease in MV·o2 (-1.1 ± 0.2 (SE) ml/min/100 g LV). In these animals there was little steady state change in TCF (-5.6±5.9 ml/min), secondary to autoregulation by the coronary vascular bed. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) fell if elevated but exhibited little change if initially normal. However, in hypotensive preparations, in which left ventricular performance was substantially limited by a decreased TCF, IACP produced a striking increase in TCF (+40.9 ± 8.6 ml/min) accompanied by an increase in MV·o2 (+1.2±0.3 ml/min/100 g LV). Elevated LVEDPs fell substantially toward normal. Directiona...

Risk of Reoperative Valve Replacement for Failed Mitral and Aortic Bioprostheses

BACKGROUND One factor influencing the choice of mechanical versus bioprosthetic valves is reoperation for bioprosthetic valve failure. To define its operative risk, we reviewed our results with valve reoperation for bioprosthetic valve failure. METHODS Records of 400 consecutive patients having reoperative mitral, aortic, or mitral and aortic bioprosthetic valve replacement from January 1985 to March 1997 were reviewed. RESULTS Reoperations were for failed bioprosthetic mitral valves in 219 patients, failed aortic valves in 153 patients, and failed aortic and mitral valves in 28 patients. Including 26 operations (6%) for acute endocarditis, 153 operations (38%) were nonelective. One hundred nine patients (27%) had other valves repaired or replaced, and 72 (18%) had coronary bypass grafting. The incidence of death in the mitral, aortic, and double-valve groups was respectively, 15 (6.8%), 12 (7.8%), and 4 (14.3%); and the incidence of prolonged postoperative hospital stay (>14 days) was, respectively, 57 (26.0%), 41 (26.8%), and 8 (28.6%). Only 7 of 147 patients (4.8%) having elective, isolated, first-time valve reoperation died. Multivariable predictors (p < 0.05) of hospital death were age greater than 65 years, male sex, renal insufficiency, and nonelective operation; and predictors of prolonged stay were acute endocarditis, renal insufficiency, any concurrent cardiac operation, and elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure. CONCLUSIONS Reoperative bioprosthetic valve replacement can be performed with acceptable mortality and hospital stay. The best results are achieved with elective valve replacement, without concurrent cardiac procedures.