PURPOSE: An ideal suturing material should be strong, easy to handle, should produce minimal tissue reaction and finally should disappear without a trace. Various micro-vascular suture materials have been produced in the past several decades in order to meet these demands. We have used nylon suturing material in experimental microsurgery because it is less expensive than polypropylene. After carotid artery end-to-end anstomosis, we found fusiform aneurysm incidentally. In this study 9-0 nylon (group I) and 9-0 polypropylene (group II) were compared to 10-0 nylon (group III), and 10-0 polypropylene (group IV) in order to survey the incidence of aneurysmal development in each material for use in microvascular surgery. METHOD: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats, 230 g to 350 g body weight, were used for this study. The carotid arteries were anastomosed end-to-end with 9-0 nylon, and 10-0 nylon, in addition to 9-0 polypropylene, and 10-0 polypropylene. The suture number of all arteries was 10 points except for two cases were 11 points due to uncontrolled bleeding. Specimens were harvested 1 week, 3 weeks, 6weeks and 10 weeks postoperatively. RESULT: The number of animals studied during the first week totaled 20 carotid arteries and they showed no interval change. After 3 weeks, we identified aneurysms in following cases: group I 3 cases, group II 2 cases, group III 1 case and group IV 1 case per five cases in each group. After 6 weeks, gross aneurysmal changes seen: group I, all (5) cases; Group II, 2 cases; group III, all (5) cases; Group IV, 3 cases. After 10 weeks, many aneurysms were observed: group I, all (5) cases; group II, all (5) cases; group III, 0 case; group IV, 2 cases. The aneurysms were measured and ranged in size from 1.3 mm to 8.1 mm. Histological analysis for inflammation, fibrosis and medial necrosis at the anastomosis site revealed no significant difference between same sized suture materials. If the experimental aneurysms were more than 5 times the diameter of the carotid artery, the aneurysms were considered to be experimental giant aneurysms. Seventy of our 34 experimental aneurysms were considered to be giant aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the development of aneurysms was related to size of the suture material and not the type of suturing material used. An ideal suture material for anastomosisof the carotid artery in the rat wasd a 10-0 monofilament suture material with suture numbers was above 10 points. We also made good aneurysm model. When we used 9-0 suture material and suture numbers were below 10 points multiple aneurysms developed. This model demonstrated the development mechanism of giant fusiform aneurysms.
Aneurysm* ; Animals ; Arteries ; Body Weight ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Microsurgery ; Necrosis ; Nylons ; Polypropylenes ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sutures

PURPOSE: An ideal suturing material should be strong, easy to handle, should produce minimal tissue reaction and finally should disappear without a trace. Various micro-vascular suture materials have been produced in the past several decades in order to meet these demands. We have used nylon suturing material in experimental microsurgery because it is less expensive than polypropylene. After carotid artery end-to-end anstomosis, we found fusiform aneurysm incidentally. In this study 9-0 nylon (group I) and 9-0 polypropylene (group II) were compared to 10-0 nylon (group III), and 10-0 polypropylene (group IV) in order to survey the incidence of aneurysmal development in each material for use in microvascular surgery. METHOD: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats, 230 g to 350 g body weight, were used for this study. The carotid arteries were anastomosed end-to-end with 9-0 nylon, and 10-0 nylon, in addition to 9-0 polypropylene, and 10-0 polypropylene. The suture number of all arteries was 10 points except for two cases were 11 points due to uncontrolled bleeding. Specimens were harvested 1 week, 3 weeks, 6weeks and 10 weeks postoperatively. RESULT: The number of animals studied during the first week totaled 20 carotid arteries and they showed no interval change. After 3 weeks, we identified aneurysms in following cases: group I 3 cases, group II 2 cases, group III 1 case and group IV 1 case per five cases in each group. After 6 weeks, gross aneurysmal changes seen: group I, all (5) cases; Group II, 2 cases; group III, all (5) cases; Group IV, 3 cases. After 10 weeks, many aneurysms were observed: group I, all (5) cases; group II, all (5) cases; group III, 0 case; group IV, 2 cases. The aneurysms were measured and ranged in size from 1.3 mm to 8.1 mm. Histological analysis for inflammation, fibrosis and medial necrosis at the anastomosis site revealed no significant difference between same sized suture materials. If the experimental aneurysms were more than 5 times the diameter of the carotid artery, the aneurysms were considered to be experimental giant aneurysms. Seventy of our 34 experimental aneurysms were considered to be giant aneurysms. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that the development of aneurysms was related to size of the suture material and not the type of suturing material used. An ideal suture material for anastomosisof the carotid artery in the rat wasd a 10-0 monofilament suture material with suture numbers was above 10 points. We also made good aneurysm model. When we used 9-0 suture material and suture numbers were below 10 points multiple aneurysms developed. This model demonstrated the development mechanism of giant fusiform aneurysms.
Aneurysm* ; Animals ; Arteries ; Body Weight ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery, Common* ; Fibrosis ; Hemorrhage ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Microsurgery ; Necrosis ; Nylons ; Polypropylenes ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sutures

Bacterial endocarditis has been well recognized as an important complication of congenital heart disease, such as ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus or pulmonary stenosis. The incidence of right sided bacterial endocarditis is lesser than left sided bacterial endocarditis. Also, pulmonic valve vegetation has been thought to be relatively uncommon. So in a patient with fever and evidence of recurrent pulmonary infarction, changing heart murmurs and scattered pneumonic infiltrates, one should direct attention to the heart as a possible source of the infection. Echocardiography with M-mode, 2-D and Doppler mode represents the only noninvasive technic available for detecting vegetations in bacterial endocarditis. In fact, the technic is more sensitive in identifying these lesions than angiography. We experienced a case of ventricular septal defect with bacterial endocarditis, pulmonic valve vegetation and multiple pulmonary embolism diagnosed with Echocardiogram and lung scan, and confirmed by operation. Patch repair of ventricular septal defect, resection of pulmonic valve and vegetation and artificial valve formation with pericardium were done.
Angiography ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis, Bacterial* ; Fever ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Heart Murmurs ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung ; Pericardium ; Pulmonary Embolism ; Pulmonary Infarction ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: QT dispersion (QTd) is defined as the difference between the maximum and minimum QT interval in any of the 12 leads of the surface ECG. QTd has been shown to reflect regional variations in ventricular repolarization. Ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may lead to more spatial and temporal dispersion in ventricular repolarization than idiopathic DCM. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference of QTd between patients who had ischemic and idiopathic DCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population included 30 patients with ischemic DCM and 30 with idiopathic DCM. All standard 12-lead ECGs were examined prospectively by two observers who were unware of the patient's details. RESULTS: QTd in ischemic DCM was significantly higher than that in idiopathic DCM (63+/-32 vs. 44+/-26 msec, p=0.012) and JTd in ischemic DCM was significantly higher than that in idiopathic DCM (48+/-21 vs. 36+/-22 msec, p=0.036). Results did not change when Bazett's QTc and JTc was substituted for QT (QTcd:69+/-33 vs. 52+/-28 p=0.039) and JT (JTcd:56+/-21 vs. 41+/-25 p=0.043). CONCLUSION: Ischemic DCM has increased spatial inhomogeneity of repolarization probably due to more regional myocardial damages compared with idiopathic DCM. The value of QT dispersion as an easily accessible, non-invasive method in predicting the risk of life threatening arrhythmia and overall mortality in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy must be confirmed in prospective trials.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mortality ; Prospective Studies

Primary cardiac lymphoma defined as involving only the heart and pericardium, is very rare and is diagnosed predominantly late in the course of illness or autopsy. This tumor is commonly fatal and until recently were rarely diagnosed antemortem. Recently, it was reported in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We report a case of primary cardiac lymphoma in a 56 year old female who showed progressive exertional dyspnea. On echocardiogram and CT scan, large ill defined mass was demonstrated in right atrial and ventricular wall. It was diagnosed as B-cell type lymphoma on open cardiac biopsy.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Autopsy ; B-Lymphocytes ; Biopsy ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Heart ; Heart Neoplasms ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Middle Aged ; Pericardium ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Imidapril(Tanatril(R)), a newly developed ACE inhibitor, has been used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure. This study was designed to assess the antihypertensive effect and safety of Imidapril(Tanatril(R)) in patient with essential hypertension. 5-10mg of imidapril(Tanatril(R)) was administered once day in 30 patients with essential hypertension and followed up to 8 weeks. We tested the drug's effectiveness, safety, and the incidence of imidapril induced dry coughs. After 8 weeks of treatment with Imidapril, 76.2%(16/21) of patient showed lowered blood pressure and 47.6% showed normal blood pressure. The overall incidence of adverse effects was 33.3%(7/21). and among these adverse effects. dry cough was shown in only 9.5%. Thus, concluded that imidapril(Tanatril(R)) is as safe and effective as other ACE inhibitors. especially with imidapril showing very little incidence of dry cough compared to other ACE inhibitors.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; Blood Pressure ; Cough ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Incidence