Search results for "Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine"
showing 10 items of 1498 documents
Ovine Biosynthetic Grafts for Aortoiliac Reconstructions in Nonsterile Operative Fields.
2021
Abstract Background Prosthetic vascular grafts placed surgically or via endovascular techniques can be subject to the risk of life-threatening graft infections. The Omniflow II vascular prosthesis is a biosynthetic graft that was reported to have favorable properties in resisting infections. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed our 3 years' experience of using the Omniflow II prostheses for aortoiliac reconstructions in patients considered to carry a substantial risk of subsequent prosthetic graft infections (prevention group) as well as in patients with actively infected prosthetic vascular grafts (treatment group). Results Aorto-bi-iliac (n = 4) and aortobifemoral (n = 12) va…
Pathophysiology of Impaired Right and Left Ventricular Function in Chronic Embolic Pulmonary Hypertension
2000
Study objectives: This study sought to evaluatethe pathophysiology of left and right heart failure in patients withchronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) who werehospitalized to undergo pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). Design: Thirty-nine patients (16 women and 23 men;mean ± SD age, 55 ± 12 years) with severe CTEPH were examinedbefore and 13 ± 8 days after PTE by way of transthoracicechocardiography and right heart catheterization. Measurements and results: Examination resultsconfirmed in all cases that before surgery the right ventricles wereenlarged and systolic function was impaired. Moderate to severetricuspid valve regurgitation was observed. Left ventriculareccent…
Long-term results after thromboendarterectomy for chronic pulmonary embolism1
1999
Objective: In patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) can be reduced by pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE). In this study, long-term symptomatic and hemodynamic effects were investigated. Methods: Twenty-two patients (12 female, 10 male, mean age 40 years, preoperative NYHA functional class II/III/IV: n = 1/12/9) were re-evaluated 48‐72 months (mean 60 months) after surgery. In addition to clinical assessment, radiologic, hemodynamic and echocardiographic investigations were performed. Results: All patients reported a marked improvement of their clinical condition. At follow-up, 11 patients were identified as NYHA class I, 10 as NY…
Relaxation induced by cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors sildenafil and zaprinast in human vessels
2000
Abstract Background . Sildenafil is currently used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, assessment of direct effects of sildenafil on coronary arteries and on arteries used as coronary grafts is unknown. This study was designed to investigate the effects of sildenafil on contracted human coronary, internal mammary, and radial arteries obtained from multiorgan donors. The observations were extended to forearm veins. Zaprinast was included in this study for comparison. Methods . Segments of left coronary, internal mammary, and radial arteries, and forearm veins were obtained from 16 multiorgan donors. Vascular rings were suspended in organ bath chambers and isometric tension was…
The impact of SARS-COV2 pandemic on the management oF IPF patients: Our narrative experience
2021
Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has changed the health-care systems around the world in a remarkable way. We describe the strategies adopted to cope with the limitations imposed by the pandemic to the access to health care by patients diagnosed with idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). Material and methods We conducted a retrospective observational analysis including IPF patients under antifibrotic drugs (nintedanib and pirfenidone) that accessed to the Outpatient clinic of the University of Palermo, Italy. Patients received a phone number and an email address in case of any urgency and a virtual meeting was settled up monthly. Results 40 patients (M/F: 30/10) were followed up, …
A new questionnaire specifically designed for patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
2006
Summary The aim of this study was to develop a specific and valid questionnaire for Italian COPD patients, living on the north or the south of Italy—which are two culturally distinct areas. The project consisted in three steps: (1) initial item set generation to identify items relevant to both genders, all ages and both regions; (2) item reduction including tests of regional specificity; (3) tests of internal validity using item-response theory using Rasch one-parameter modelling. Ninty-six COPD patients (mean aged 69 yr; 78 Male) completed the original set of 124 items of the Italian Health Status Questionnaire (IHSQ). Item reduction was carried out using an established standardised approa…
Impact of cancer on the effectiveness of cardiac Troponin I to predict right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism
2015
Background Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are connected with a poor outcome in cancer patients. We aimed to investigate the impact of cancer on the effectiveness of cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) to predict right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in acute PE. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 182 patients with confirmed PE. PE patients were subdivided into two groups: (i) with concomitant active cancer disease or history of cancer, and (ii) without known cancer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves with area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for cTnI predicting RVD and related cut-off levels for both groups. Results Thirty-seven PE patients (20.3%) …
Riociguat treatment in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: Final safety data from the EXPERT registry
2021
OBJECTIVE: The soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator riociguat is approved for the treatment of adult patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and inoperable or persistent/recurrent chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension following Phase 3 randomized trials. The EXPosurE Registry RiociguaT in patients with pulmonary hypertension (EXPERT) study was designed to monitor the long-term safety of riociguat in clinical practice. METHODS: EXPERT was an international, multicenter, prospective, uncontrolled, non-interventional cohort study of patients treated with riociguat. Patients were followed for at least 1 year and up to 4 years from enrollment or until 30 days after stopping ri…