Long-term albumin administration after first-onset ascites significantly improves patients' survival and decreases the risk of ascites recurrence.

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An increased release of nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilating agent, has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of vasodilation and hyperdynamic circulation associated with advanced cirrhosis. We evaluated NO synthase (NOS) activity in peripheral leukocytes of 12 cirrhotic patients and 9 healthy subjects together with plasma endotoxin levels and systemic hemodynamic (by a noninvasive echocardiographic method). NOS activity was evaluated by (1) measuring the capacity of isolated polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and monocytes to convert [3H]arginine to [3H]citrulline; (2) measuring the ability of neutrophils and monocytes to inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and to increase guanosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate content in coincubated platelets, an expression of NO release from these cells. Both neutrophils and monocytes from cirrhotic patients produced significantly higher amounts of [3H]citrulline than cells obtained from healthy subjects (P < .001 and P < .02 for neutrophils and monocytes, respectively) and were more effective than control cells in inhibiting platelet aggregation (P < .05 and P < .001, respectively for 2 x 10(6) cells) and in increasing guanosine 3'-5'-cyclic monophosphate content in coincubated platelets (P < .05 and P < .001, respectively). The anti-aggregating activity expressed by leukocytes has a pharmacological profile similar to that described for NO, because it increased after addition of superoxide dismutase, a superoxide anion scavenger, and markedly decreased after inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME). Cirrhotic patients had significantly higher plasma endotoxin levels (P < .001) and cardiac index (P < .01) when compared with controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of resecting a post-infarction left ventricular anterior aneurysm on the kinetics of the non-ischaemic inferior wall, remote from the healed lesion. Thirteen patients, with an anterior post-infarction aneurysm and a normal right coronary artery who underwent aneurysmectomy with endoventricular circular patch plasty reconstruction, had a complete haemodynamic study before and shortly after surgery. The shape of the left ventricle was quantitatively analysed by calculating the regional curvature at 90 points of the angiographic outlines (30 degrees right anterior oblique projection). Segmental wall motion was studied by means of the centreline method and by constructing pressure-length loops from the endocardial movement of 18 chords intersecting the left ventricular inferior contour and by simultaneously tracing the high-fidelity left ventricular pressure. Analysis of pressure-length regional loops showed a complex pattern of abnormal contraction and relaxation in the non-ischaemic inferior regions at baseline; after surgery such abnormalities decreased significantly and tended to revert to normal in many cases. Left ventricular shape in the inferior region was abnormal in 10/13 patients in that there was negative curvature at the interface between the aneurysm and the inferior wall that was corrected to positive after surgery. Regional inferior wall motion and global ejection fraction significantly improved after surgery in these 10 patients. The three patients whose global ejection fraction did not improve showed no inferior negative curvature pre-operatively, nor did they show an increase in inferior wall motion. The results indicate that regional function and shape in inferior, non-ischaemic regions, remote from an anterior aneurysm, are abnormal but potentially correctible if the abnormal mechanical burden imposed on the wall is relieved.

Numerous studies have pointed out the frequent association of tetralogy of Fallot (TF) with other cardiovascular defects and coronary tree anomalies. We found cardiac defects in 181 (68%) out of 265 patients with TF investigated by catheterization and selective coronary angiography. These anomalies were isolated in 88 cases (49%) and associated with others in 93 patients. In the case of an isolated anomaly associated with TF, the coronary tree was involved in 37.5% and the cardiovascular system in the remaining 62.5%; in the case of two anomalies, the coronary system was involved in 66% of the patients and the cardiovascular apparatus in 34%; in the case of three or more anomalies, the coronary arteries were involved in 71% and the cardiovascular system in 29%. Anomalies in the course and/or distribution of coronary arteries were present in 96 patients (36%): 10 had a single coronary ostium, 13 a left anterior descending artery arising from the right coronary artery, one a circumflex artery arising from the right coronary artery. Small fistulas between coronary arteries and the pulmonary artery were found in 20 cases; anastomoses between coronary and bronchial arteries or right atrium in 42. In 39 patients we observed a large conus artery or large anterior ventricular branches crossing the right ventricle. A right aortic arch was found in 56 patients (21%), a stenosis of the trunk and/or the peripheral pulmonary artery in 35 (13%) and pulmonary artery atresia in five. Four patients showed a complete atrioventricular canal, three an atrial septal defect (primum type) with cleft of the mitral valve, 61 (23%) an atrial septal defect (ostium secundum). Eleven patients had anomalies of the systemic venous return, 26 (10%) a patent ductus arteriosus. Four patients had valvular abnormalities. In our series, a large proportion of cardiac defects associated with TF consists of anomalies of coronary arteries. Our data confirm the usefulness of performing preoperatively routine coronary angiography in patients with complex congenital heart disease.

In patients with peripheral arterial disease, limitation of exercise capacity will reduce the level of everyday physical activity and affect the quality of life. This study was designed (1) to examine the health-related quality of life of patients with intermittent claudication, and (2) to verify whether treadmill performance is related to the patient's perceived ability to function in the community. In 251 patients with intermittent claudication and 89 matched normal subjects, quality of life was assessed by a general health index questionnaire, the McMaster Health Index Questionnaire (MHIQ), which covers three dimensions of life (physical, social and emotional function). The maximal walking capacity of intermittent claudication patients was measured by the treadmill test. When controls were compared to intermittent claudication patients using the MHIQ, it was found that intermittent claudication patients showed a significant (p < 0.01) impairment of 'general health' and lower scores for physical (0.90 +/- 0.17 vs 0.65 +/- 0.17; p < 0.01), social (0.71 +/- 0.11 vs 0.63 +/- 0.12; p < 0.01) and emotional (0.75 +/- 0.17 vs 0.65 +/- 0.15; p < 0.01) function. Age, gender and work status had a significant impact upon health scores in several areas. Treadmill performance did not correlate with social or emotional function, whereas there was a small but significant relationship between maximal walking capacity and physical function scores (r = 0.197; p < 0.01). This study suggests that impairment in quality of life experience by patients with intermittent claudication poorly correlates with the reduced exercised capacity assessed by the treadmill test. Therefore, the evaluation of medical and surgical treatment of intermittent claudication should include the administration of a questionnaire for quality of life assessment.

Background-In ischemic cardiomyopathy, dyssynchrony of left ventricular (LV) mechanical contraction produces adverse hemodynamic consequences. This study tests the capacity of geometric rebuilding by surgical ventricular restoration (SVR) to restore a more synchronous contractile pattern after a mechanical, rather than electrical, intervention. Methods and Results-A prospective study of the global and regional components of dyssynchrony was conducted in 30 patients (58Ϯ8 years of age) undergoing SVR at the Cardiothoracic Center of Monaco. The protocol used simultaneous measurements of ventricular volumes and pressure to construct pressure/volume (P/V) and pressure/length (P/L) loops. Angiograms were done before and after SVR to study a 600-ms cycle during atrial pacing at 100 bpm. Mean QRS duration was similar, at 100Ϯ17 ms preoperatively and 114Ϯ28 ms postoperatively (NS). Preoperative LV contraction was highly asynchronous, because P/V loops showed abnormal isometric phases with a right shifting. Endocardial time motion was either early or delayed at the end-systolic phase so that P/L loops were markedly abnormal in size, shape, and orientation. Postoperatively, SVR resulted in leftward shifting of P/V loops and increased area; endocardial time motion and P/L loops almost normalized to allow a better contribution of single regions to global ejection. The hemodynamic consequences of SVR were improved ejection fraction (30Ϯ13% to 45Ϯ12%; Pϭ0.001); reduced end-diastolic and end-systolic volume index (202Ϯ76 to 122Ϯ48 and 144Ϯ69 to 69Ϯ40 mL/m