| 1. |
- Blomberg, S, et al.
(författare)
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Thoracic epidural anaesthesia in patients with unstable angina pectoris
- 1989
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 10:5, s. 437-444
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of high thoracic epidural anaesthesia with intermittent epidural bolus injections of bupivacaine (2.5 or 5 mg ml-1) was studied in 28 patients with unstable angina pectoris. The majority of the patients had a history of previous acute myocardial infarction(s) and/or angina pectoris and severe coronary artery disease. All patients were treated wth nitroglycerin infusion for gt;24 h and were included in the study if they had chest pain, not caused by acute myocardial infarction, at bed rest or recurrent anginal pain at rest < 2 days after infarction. 4.4 ± 0.3 ml of bupivacaine induced a blockade of the upper seven sympathetic segments ( Th1-7) for 98 ± 9min. Heart rate decreased significantly from 70 ± 3 to 64 ± 3 beats min-1 while blood pressure was unaffected by thoracic epidural anaesthesia. In 27 patients (96%) the anaesthesia induced complete analgesia. Nitroglycerin infusion was discontinued definitely within 3 h in 26 patients (93%) and pain was thereafter controlled by means of thoracic epidural anaesthesia as the sole treatment in 23 patients (82%) and as the major treatment in 25 patients (89%). Twenty-one patients (75%) were fully mobilized and stabilized. Treatment with thoracic epidural anaesthesia lasted for 6.0 ± 1.1 days. The number of daily epidural injections decreased significantly with time from 2.7 ±0.3 the first day to 0.9 ± 0.3 the fourth day (P>0.01, n = 19). Two patients developed acute myocardial infarction during the anaesthesia treatment period, and one of these patients died. Exercise stress testing was performed on eight patients three to five days after the start of thoracic epidural anaesthesia. At a comparable workload, ST-segment depression was significantly (P>0.05) less pronounced during anaesthesia ( − 0.6 ± 0.1 mm) compared with control ( − 1.3 ± 0.2mm). The respective heart rate values were 95 ± 7 and 107 ± 7 beats min -1 (P > 0.05), while systolic or diastolic blood pressure did not differ between the two conditions. We conclude that blockade of cardiac sympathetic afferents and efferents by means of thoracic epidural anaesthesia can effectively treat pain and stabilize patients with unstable angina pectoris refractory to medical treatment. Furthermore, thoracic epidural anaesthesia attenuates stress-induced myocardial ischaemia; thus, it may be an efficient supplementary treatment for the control of pain and for stabilizing patients with unstable angina pectoris during diagnostic procedures and prior to coronary surgery or angioplasty.
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| 2. |
- Blomström-Lundqvist, Carina, et al.
(författare)
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Follow-up by repeated signal-averaged surface QRS in patients with the syndrome of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
- 1989
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 10:suppl D, s. 54-60
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Repeated signal-averaged surface electrocardiograms were recorded with a mean interval of 32·5 months (range 14 to 55 months) in 12 patients with the syndrome of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). The mean differences in the amplitude and duration of the filtered QRS complex (FQRS), the root mean square voltage of the last 40 ms of the FQRS and the duration of the terminal potentials of less than 25 µV were not statistically significant between the recordings. A wide spectrum of changes in the voltage and duration of the terminal potentials was observed, irrespective of the clinical susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia. Three patients developed changes suggesting a progression, with a decreased voltage and prolonged duration of the terminal potentials, and four patients showed the opposite pattern. In five patients the signals were stationary. It is concluded that the properties of late potentials may change with time in patients with ARVD. Follow-up by repeated signal-averaged QRS does not appear to be useful in predicting the susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia in ARVD. Its application in predicting and following progressive right ventricular morphological changes remains to be determined.
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| 3. |
- Blomström-Lundqvist, C, et al.
(författare)
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Quantitative analysis of the signal-averaged QRS in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
- 1988
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 9:3, s. 301-312
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Temporal signal averaging of the surface QRS (VI + V3 + V5) was performed in 16 patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and in 16 normal subjects. The differences between ARVD patients and normals were large for the filtered QRS duration (FQRSd) (146.2±18.9 vs. 91.8±4.1ms, P<000001), the late potential duration (LPd) (83.5±23.3 ms vs. 23.6±4.6ms, P< 0.00001), the LPd/ FQRSd ratio (53.9± 10.1% vs. 25.8±5.1%, P <0.00001), the filtered QRS amplitude (234.0±61.1μV vs. 429±942 fiV, P <0001), and the root mean square voltage of the signals in the terminal 40 and 50 ms of the FQRS (RMS40 and RMS50) (18.4± 10.0μV vs. 118.4±49.8p.V, P<0.0005 and 27.9± 19.2μV vs. 217.0±66.3fiV, P<0000002). RMS50 <40μV discriminated best between ARVD and normals (81% sensitivity and 100% specificity). The right-sided predominance of the abnormalities in ARVD was demonstrated by the significantly longer FQRSd and LPd, and the higher ratio LPd/FQRSd in right than in left precordial leads. The arrhythmia susceptibility did not seem to influence the presence of or properties ofLP in the ARVD group. Patients with multiple QRS morphologies during ventricular tachycardia (VT) had, compared with patients with only one type of VT, longer LPd (108.3 ±46.4 ms vs. 64.2 ±31.7 ms, P<0.02) and lower RMS40 voltage (9.4±9.9 μV vs. 25.4±21.6 μV, P<0.05). The relative heart volume was positively correlated with delayed activity, but an enlarged heart was not apre-requisitefor the presence ofLP. The method thus identifies changes which are specific to ARVD. The findings indicate that certain electrical or morphological conditions are required for the occurrence of arrhythmias.
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| 4. |
- Blomström-Lundqvist, C, et al.
(författare)
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Ventricular dimensions and wall motion assessed by echocardiography in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia
- 1988
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 9:12, s. 1291-1302
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Twenty patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) and 20 healthy volunteers underwent cross-sectional echocardiographic examination for the assessment of ventricular dimensions and wall motion. Right ventricular cavity diameters and wall segments were selected from the inflow and outflow tracts and the right ventricular body. The measurement error for measuring cavity dimensions was low throughout and the reproducibility of wall motion scoring was high in both the normal subjects and the patients. All except one patient had increased dimensions and/or abnormal wall motion in the right ventricle. The right ventricular inflow tract was dilated in nine patients, the outflow tract in 11 patients and the short- or long-axis diameters of the right ventricular body were increased in seven patients. Right ventricular wall motion abnormalities, being the most frequent finding, ranged from mild hypokinesia only to dyskinesia or sacculations, and were fairly evenly distributed among the segments studied. Left ventricular abnormalities, found in eight patients, were generally mild. Cross-sectional echocardiography thus provides highly reproducible measurements of right ventricular size and contraction patterns even in patients with wall shape deformities, and is therefore a feasible non-invasive method for the evaluation of right-sided myocardial abnormalities in patients with ARVD. The diagnostic accuracy of this technique warrants further clarification.
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| 5. |
- Blomström, P, et al.
(författare)
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Precision of preoperative electrophysiological study in predicting the intraoperatively defined location of single left-sided accessory pathways
- 1987
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 8:5, s. 510-520
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 34 patients with a left-side anomalous pathway (AP) considered for arrhythmia surgery, the atrial insertion of the anomalous pathway in the preoperative investigation was determined by using three different techniques. The atrial activation sequence during orthodromic tachycardia or ventricular stimulation was recorded in the coronary sinus by using either (a) unipolar leads from an eight-polar electrode catheter with an interelectrode distance of 1 cm, (b) bipolar leads from consecutively positioned pairs of electrodes on the same electrode catheter or (c) bipolar leads recorded at one centimeter intervals by withdrawal of the electrode catheter. The corresponding location at surgery was obtained by atrial epicardial mapping during ventricular stimulation. Each way of recording the atrial activation sequence in the coronary sinus during orthodromic tachycardia or ventricular stimulation was compared with regard to their predictive value in assessing the corresponding location by intraoperative mapping. At surgery, a visual grid system was used to define the anatomical landmarks which were located 20 mm apart. When the unipolar technique was used to assess the anomalous pathway location, there was a difference corresponding to a distance of 2–2.5 anatomical landmarks (48 mm) between the preoperative and intraoperative assessments. With the bipolar technique the difference was up to 3 anatomical landmarks (60 mm) while it was up to 4.5 anatomical landmarks (90 mm) when the withdrawal technique was employed. The unipolar technique was superior in differentiating a left lateral from a left posterior or a septal location.
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| 6. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Metoprolol in acute myocardial infarction (MIAMI). A randomised placebo-controlled international trial
- 1985
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 6:3, s. 199-226
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The effect of metoprolol on mortality and morbidity after 15 days, was compared with that of placebo in a double-blind randomised international trial (the MIAMI trial) in patients with definite or suspected acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Treatment with intravenous metoprolol (15mg) or placebo was started shortly after the patient's arrival in hospital within 24 h of the onset of symptoms, and then oral treatment (200 mg daily) was continued for the study period (15 days). Of the 5778 patients included, 2901 were allocated to placebo and 2877 to metoprolol. Definite AMI was confirmed in 4127 patients. There were 142 deaths in the placebo group (4.9%) and 123 deaths in the metoprolol group (4.3%), a difference of 13 per cent with 95 per cent confidence limits of −8 to +33 per cent, not statistically significant (P=0.29). Previously recorded risk indicators of mortality were analysed in retrospect. These indicated that there was a category which showed higher risk which contained approximately 30% of all randomized patients. In these, the mortality rate in the metoprolol treated group was 29% less than in the placebo group. In the remaining lower risk categories there was no difference between the treatment groups. This subset analysis must be interpreted with caution in view of the findings from other similar studies. Positive effects were observed on the incidence of definite AMI and on serum enzyme activity in patients treated early ( <7h). There was no significant effect on ventricular fibrillation but the number of episodes tended to be lower in the metoprolol treated patients during the later phase (6–15 days; 24 vs 54 episodes). The incidence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, the use of cardiac glycosides and other antiarrhythmics, and the need for pain-relieving treatment were significantly diminished by metoprolol amongst all randomised patients. Adverse events associated with metoprolol were infrequent, expected, and relatively mild.
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| 7. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Mortality and morbidity in suspected acute myocardial infarction in relation to ambulance transport
- 1987
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 8:5, s. 503-509
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 681 patients admitted to the coronary care unit (CCU) at Sahlgrenska hospital between 1 May 1983 and 31 May 1984, due to suspected acute myocardial infarction (MI), the hospital mortality and morbidity were related to whether the patients were transferred to hospital by ambulance or not. In the ambulance group acute MI developed in 48% (during the first 3 days in hospital) compared with 41% in the non-ambulance group (P= 0.10). The overall mortality rate was 10.4% in the ambulance group versus 3.8% in the non-ambulance group (P= 0.001). Corresponding figures for MIpatients were 193% versus 9.1% (P=0.02) In all, patients referred by ambulance had larger infarcts according to maximum serum enzyme activity and a higher incidence of congestive heart failure. Similar findings were observed when MI patients were analysed separately. On the other hand, the incidence of ventricular fibrillation, requirement for lidocaine, and the course of pain was fairly similar in the two groups. In a multivariate analysis, infarct size was the major independent predictor for early mortality rate. We conclude that patients who call for an ambulance due to suspected acute MI appear to have a different early mortality and morbidity pattern compared to those who do not. The most obvious observation was a higher early mortality. These patients therefore might be the most suitable candidates for early intervention studies.
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| 8. |
- Herlitz, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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The role of beta blockade in the limitation of infarct development
- 1986
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 7:11, s. 916-924
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This review article deals with the role of beta blockade in the limitation of infarct development. A large number of studies have reported that early administration of beta blockers limits infarct size in animals. In a few, however, these results were not reconfirmed. In man, several large randomized trials have shown that early administration of beta blockade limits infarct development judged from serum enzyme activity and ECG recordings. Delay time between the onset of symptoms and start of treatment is of major importance. It appears as though patients with a higher initial rate pressure product respond most favourably. Although these results are encouraging, the role of infarct limitation in relation to effects on early mortality, chest pain and arrhythmias have not been clearly defined.
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| 9. |
- Ljunghall, S, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical studies of calcium metabolism in essential hypertension
- 1987
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - 1522-9645. ; 8:Suppl. B, s. 37-44
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many factors can ultimately lead to an increased blood pressure and it is a generally accepted view that an increase in the active tension of arterioles reflects an increase of the free calcium concentration in the cytosol of the vascular smooth muscle cells. Only recently, however, has the possibility been considered that blood pressure regulation could be influenced by calcium homeostasis. A background for these studies has been provided by the epidemiological observations which link hypertension to a low dietary intake of calcium as well as experimental studies in animals, mostly rats, which have demonstrated that various disturbances of calcium metabolism are related to a raised blood pressure. This review is focused on clinical studies of a possible association between systemic calcium metabolism and the regulation of blood pressure.
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| 10. |
- Wiklund, I, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of life five years after myocardial infarction
- 1989
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal. - : Oxford University Press. - 0195-668X .- 1522-9645. ; 10:5, s. 464-472
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 539 patients 5 years after myocardial infarction (MI), quality of life and factors influencing life quality were studied. All patients originally participated in an early intervention trial with metoprolol. A cardiac follow-up questionnaire and the Nottingham Health Profile were answered by 82%. In the former, information about subjective symptoms, smoking, work and current medication was obtained; the latter described health-related quality of life in terms of energy, sleep, emotions, mobility, pain and social isolation. The rate of and the reasons for rehospitalization were registered in the patients' records. The MI patients reported a comparatively high quality of life. Compared with ‘normal’ population, a decrease was noted in energy, sleep and mobility, and in sex life, hobby-activity and holiday activity. A non-parametric multivariate analysis disclosed that dyspnoea, angina pectoris and anxiety were closely associated with decreased quality of life. In conclusion, 5 years after MI most patients seemed well-adjusted. Impaired quality of life was reported by patients suffering from angina pectoris, dyspnoea and emotional distress. No relationship was found between health-related quality of life and the beta blocker, metoprolol, which was the most frequently used drug.
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