| 1. |
- Houltz, Birgitta, 1952, et al.
(författare)
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Left ventricular diastolic function and right atrial size are important rhythm outcome predictors after intraoperative ablation for atrial fibrillation.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.). - : Wiley. - 1540-8175 .- 0742-2822. ; 27:8, s. 961-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and right atrial (RA) size are not routinely included in preoperative echocardiographic examination in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with concomitant ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of echocardiographic variables including LV diastolic function and RA area in long-term rhythm outcome prediction, in patients with documented AF undergoing intraoperative ablation concomitant to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients, scheduled for CABG, and with a history of paroxysmal or permanent AF for 8.5 ± 11.3 years (mean ± SD) (median 5.8 years), were included in this prospective study. Echocardiography was performed prior to and 2.3 ± 0.4 years after the surgical procedure. RESULTS: Both LA and RA areas, LV diastolic function, paroxysmal AF, and sinus rhythm (SR) preoperatively were associated with SR at long-term follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, RA area (P = 0.004), and decreased LV diastolic function preoperatively, measured as the maximal LV long-axis relaxation velocity (P = 0.02), predicted SR at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: RA size and LV diastolic function may be important variables in prediction of long-term rhythm outcome after intraoperative ablation for AF.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Johansson, Birgitta, 1960, et al.
(författare)
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Low Mortality and Low Rate of Perceived and Documented Arrhythmias after Cox Maze III Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE. - : Wiley. - 1540-8159 .- 0147-8389. ; 37:2, s. 147-156
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: To report a long-term single-site experience of the cut-and-sew Cox maze III procedure for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: A total of 232 consecutive patients underwent the Cox maze III procedure for symptomatic therapy-refractory AF, with concomitant surgery in 34 patients. Follow-up data were obtained from electrocardiograms, patient visits, questionnaires, and medical files. Results: There were 103 patients (44%) with paroxysmal AF during 8.8 ± 6.5 years and 129 patients (56%) with nonparoxysmal AF for 7.3 ± 6.7 years. The preoperative New York Heart Association class was better in patients with paroxysmal AF (P < 0.0001); the left ventricular ejection fraction was 59 ± 7% versus 56 ± 8%, P = 0.003, and the left atrial area 24 ± 6 versus 27 ± 6cm 2 ,P = 0.01. Early and late postoperative adverse events occurred at similar rates. Four patients from each group died of reasons unrelated to surgery. The mean follow-up was 66 ± 42 (5–155) months. In total, 184/229 (80%) patients were free of documented AF/atrial flutter/atrial tachycardia (AF/AFl/AT) off antiarrhythmic drugs (AA) and 189/229 (83%) on or off AA. The hazard ratio (HR) for paroxysmal versus nonparoxysmal AF patients regarding documented AF/AFl/AT was 0.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.4–1.4; P = 0.40). For patients without versus with concomitant surgery, the corresponding HR was 0.4 (95% CI 0.2–0.8; P = 0.008). Of 197 patients (89%) responding to the questionnaire, 41 had sought care for symptoms of arrhythmia, 29 of whom had documented AF/AFl/AT, whereas another six had other arrhythmias. Conclusion: Cut-and-sew Cox maze III surgery provided long-lasting high efficacy, also in patients with nonparoxysmal AF of long duration and/or concomitant surgery, and was associated with low rates of subsequent adverse events. (PACE 2014; 37:147–156)
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| 4. |
- Lundh, Marie Høyer, et al.
(författare)
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Sickness absence and disability pension following breast cancer - A population-based matched cohort study
- 2014
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Ingår i: Breast. - : Churchill Livingstone. - 0960-9776 .- 1532-3080. ; 23:6, s. 844-851
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: To compare sickness absence and disability pension in a population-based cohort of women with breast cancer (n = 463) from 1 year pre-diagnosis until 3 years post-diagnosis with a matched control group (n = 2310), and to investigate predictors of sickness absence during the 2nd and 3rd year post-diagnosis.Results: Following breast cancer, the proportion of disease-free women with sickness absence decreased post-diagnosis (1st-3rd year; 78%-31%-19%), but did not reach the pre-diagnostic level (14%; P < 0.05). Post-diagnosis, patients were more likely than controls to be sickness absent (1st-3rd year; P < 0.001). No between-group differences were observed for disability pension post-diagnosis (P > 0.05). Among patients, chemotherapy, baseline fatigue and pre-diagnosis sick days predicted sickness absence during the 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd and 3rd year post-diagnosis, respectively (P < 0.05).Conclusions: Breast cancer is associated with increased sickness absence 3 years post-diagnosis. In a clinical setting, prevention and treatment of side effects are important in reducing long-term consequences.
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| 5. |
- Romlin, Birgitta S, et al.
(författare)
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Earlier detection of coagulopathy with thromboelastometry during pediatric cardiac surgery: a prospective observational study.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Paediatric anaesthesia. - : Wiley. - 1460-9592. ; 23:3, s. 222-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective Earlier detection of coagulopathy in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. Aim To determine whether thromboelastometry (TEM) analysis before weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and hemoconcentration is predictive of post-CPB results and whether analysis of clot firmness already after 10 min yields reliable results. Background Cardiac surgery with CPB induces a coagulopathy that may contribute to postoperative complications. Earlier detection increases the possibility of initiating countermeasures. Methods/Material Fifty-six pediatric cardiac surgery patients were included in a prospective observational study. HEPTEM and FIBTEM clotting time (CT), clot formation time (CFT), and clot firmness after 10 min (A10) and at maximum (MCF) were analyzed during CPB and after CPB and ultrafiltration with modified rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®). The analyses were compared, and correlations and differences were calculated. Results Hemoconcentration with modified ultrafiltration increased hematocrit from 28 ± 3 to 37 ± 4% (P < 0.001). Correlation coefficients of the TEM variables during and after CPB ranged from 0.61 to 0.82 (all P < 0.001). HEPTEM-CT and HEPTEM-MCF differed significantly but the differences were marginal. Both HEPTEM and FIBTEM A10 measurements during CPB were significantly less than MCF (P < 0.001 for both), but the correlations were highly significant (HEPTEM: r = 0.95, P < 0.001; FIBTEM: r = 0.96, P < 0.001), and the differences were predictable, with narrow confidence intervals (HEPTEM: −8.2 mm (−8.9 to −7.5); FIBTEM: −0.5 mm (−0.7 to −0.3). Conclusion The results suggest that intraoperative TEM analyses can be accelerated by analyzing HEPTEM/FIBTEM on CPB before hemoconcentration and by analyzing clot firmness already after 10 min.
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| 6. |
- Romlin, Birgitta S, et al.
(författare)
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Intraoperative thromboelastometry is associated with reduced transfusion prevalence in pediatric cardiac surgery.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Anesthesia and analgesia. - 1526-7598. ; 112:1, s. 30-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The majority of pediatric cardiac surgery patients receive blood transfusions. We hypothesized that the routine use of intraoperative thromboelastometry to guide transfusion decisions would reduce the overall proportion of patients receiving transfusions in pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods: One hundred pediatric cardiac surgery patients were included in the study. Fifty patients (study group) were prospectively included and compared with 50 procedure- and age-matched control patients (control group). In the study group, thromboelastometry, performed during cardiopulmonary bypass, guided intraoperative transfusions. Intraoperative and postoperative transfusions of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and fibrinogen concentrates, and postoperative blood loss and hemoglobin levels were compared between the 2 groups. Results: The proportion of patients receiving any intraoperative or postoperative transfusion of packed red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets, or fibrinogen concentrates was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (32 of 50 [64%] vs 46 of 50 [92%], respectively; P < 0.001). Significantly fewer patients in the study group received transfusions of packed red blood cells (58% vs 78%, P = 0.032) and plasma (14% vs 78%, P < 0.001), whereas more patients in the study group received transfusions of platelets (38% vs 12%, P = 0.002) and fibrinogen concentrates (16% vs 2%, P = 0.015). Neither postoperative blood loss nor postoperative hemoglobin levels differed significantly between the study group and the control group. Conclusions: The results suggest that routine use of intraoperative thromboelastometry in pediatric cardiac surgery to guide transfusions is associated with a reduced proportion of patients receiving transfusions and an altered transfusion pattern.
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| 7. |
- Romlin, Birgitta S, et al.
(författare)
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Monitoring of acetyl salicylic acid-induced platelet inhibition with impedance aggregometry in children with systemic-to-pulmonary shunts.
- 2013
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Ingår i: Cardiology in the young. - 1467-1107. ; 23:2, s. 225-232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Shunt thrombosis after implantation of systemic-to-pulmonary shunts in paediatric patients is common. Acetyl salicylic acid is used for anti-thrombotic treatment; however, the effect is rarely monitored, although it is known that the response varies. The aim was to determine the effects of acetyl salicylic acid medication on platelet aggregation in children with systemic-to-pulmonary shunts. METHODS: A total of 14 children - median age 12 days; ranging from 3 to 100 days - were included in a prospective observational longitudinal study. All children were treated with oral acetyl salicylic acid (3-5 milligrams per kilogram once daily) after shunt implantation. Acetyl salicylic acid-dependent platelet aggregation in whole blood was analysed with impedance aggregometry (Multiplate®) after addition of arachidonic acid. Analyses were carried out before the primary operation, before and 5 and 24 hours after the first acetyl salicylic acid dose, and after 3-6 months of treatment. The therapeutic range for acetyl salicylic acid was defined as a test result less than 60 units. RESULTS: Acetyl salicylic acid reduced the arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation in all but one patient. Of the patients, 93% were in the therapeutic range 5 hours after acetyl salicylic acid intake, 86% were in the range after 24 hours, and 64% after 3-6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Acetyl salicylic acid reduces platelet aggregation after shunt implantation in paediatric patients, but a considerable percentage of the children are outside the therapeutic range. Monitoring of platelet aggregation has the potential to improve anti-platelet treatment after shunt implantation by identifying children with impaired acetyl salicylic acid response.
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| 8. |
- Walfridsson, Håkan, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of AZD0837, a novel direct thrombin inhibitor, on the electrophysiological properties of the human heart: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study.
- 2010
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Ingår i: Clinical drug investigation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1173-2563 .- 1179-1918. ; 30:7, s. 461-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: AZD0837 is an investigational oral anticoagulant that is bioconverted to its active form, AR-H067637, a selective direct thrombin inhibitor. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the present study were to investigate if there are any clinically relevant adverse effects of intravenous AZD0837 on cardiac conduction, refractoriness and repolarization, and to study its safety and tolerability. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study (study code D1250C00026), invasive electrophysiological measurements were performed twice in 30 subjects with a history of, or ongoing, atrial flutter, starting 30 minutes after successful ablation of atrial flutter and then 60 minutes after start of an intravenous infusion of AZD0837. Pre-study warfarin therapy was not an exclusion criterion. The stimulation protocol was performed mainly at 500 and 400 ms drive cycle length. A 12-lead ECG was also recorded before and during AZD0837 infusion. Plasma concentrations of AZD0837 and its metabolites were obtained at predefined timepoints. RESULTS: Measurements were made at baseline and during stable plasma concentrations of the prodrug AZD0837 (mean +/- standard deviation 7.96 +/- 2.38 micromol/L, approximate target of 10 micromol/L), the intermediate metabolite AR-H69927 (1.26 +/- 0.39 micromol/L, target 1-2 micromol/L) and the active direct thrombin inhibitor AR-H067637 (0.35 +/- 0.14 micromol/L, target 0.5-1.0 micromol/L). There were no clinically relevant effects on cardiac conduction (QRS duration, PR interval, His bundle electrogram, Wenckebach point), refractoriness (atrial, atrioventricular and ventricular effective refractory periods) or repolarization (QT, QT interval corrected for heart rate using Fridericia's formula, QRS onset to the top of the T wave [QT(top)], QRS onset to the end of the T wave [QT(end)] or QT(top) - QT(end)). CONCLUSIONS: AZD0837 was well tolerated, and had no clinically relevant effects on cardiac electrophysiology of the target population, either in subjects previously treated with warfarin or in those without previous treatment.
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| 9. |
- Wecke, Liliane, et al.
(författare)
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Vectorcardiography shows cardiac memory and repolarization heterogeneity after ablation of accessory pathways not apparent on ECG
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 166:1, s. 152-157
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Pacing induced cardiac memory is an established phenomenon, but following successful WPW ablation, cardiac memory was present on ECG in variable proportions of patients depending on accessory pathway (AP) location. We hypothesized that vectorcardiography (VCG), which is more sensitive than ECG, would show cardiac memory after WPW ablation independent of AP location. METHODS: Thirty-six patients were followed after successful AP ablation, 11 with overt posteroseptal (PS), 13 with overt left-sided (LS) and 12 with concealed APs (controls). VCGs were recorded the day before and after the procedure, ≥once/week for 6-8weeks and after ≥3months. T vector and T-vector loop parameters were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: After ablation of overt APs, there was a correlation between the directions of the preexcited maximum QRS-vector and the post-ablation maximum T-vector, confirming the presence of cardiac memory. Ablation of overt APs was followed by cardiac memory apparent in different directions. Thus, ablation of PS APs was followed by most pronounced changes in T-vector elevation and LS APs with significant changes only in T-vector azimuth. Cardiac memory disappeared within a month in >80% of cases. Furthermore, T-vector loop morphology changes suggested a period of repolarization heterogeneity immediately after ablation of overt APs. CONCLUSIONS: According to VCG analysis cardiac memory was present after ablation of overt APs independent of location as consistently as after ventricular pacing, and disappeared within a similar time frame during normal ventricular activation. In addition, signs of transient repolarization heterogeneity were observed after ablation of overt APs.
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