Postoperative Symptom Improvement Research Articles

Can obstructive sleep apnoea be a complication of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty?

Polysomnography is currently used for diagnosis, evaluation and selection of therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but clinically successful uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is not necessarily reflected by post-operative improvement of polysomnographic recordings. Post-operative polysomnography may suggest deterioration of pre-existing OSA or, in snorers, de-novo precipitation of OSA. Thus, if polysomnography is a reliable indicator of OSA, then OSA may be a post-operative risk of UPPP. (i) to assess the possible deleterious effect of UPPP on sleep patterns; (ii) to further define the role of cardioisotope scanning in the evaluation of OSA; (iii) to assess the reliability of polysomnography given the clinical and cardiosotope scan findings. Symptoms, polysomnography and radionuclide ventriculography were prospectively compared pre- and post-operatively in 41 patients undergoing UPPP. In 12 patients (29 per cent), there were disparate results between pre- or post-operative polysomnography and the clinical and/or radionuclide ventriculography, as follows: In four of 16 patients with abnormal pre-operative ventricular performance, there was pre-operative symptomatology of severe OSA and a bedmate's reports of apnoeic episodes. This was in contrast to normal or near normal sleep apnoea recordings. In eight patients, post-operative improvement of symptoms was reported, despite deterioration of post-operative polysomnographic recordings. In these patients the post-operative improvement of symptoms was also reflected by improved ventricular performance. Worsening of ventricular performance was not demonstrated in any patient. In conclusion, UPPP does not induce OSA. Polysomnography may underestimate or even misdiagnose cases of OSA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Die Rolle des Radionuklid- ventrikulogramms für die Indikationsstellung zum Klappenersatz bei der chronischen Aortenklappeninsuffizienz

Timing of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) remains a difficult problem in clinical practice. Radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) yields information on the extent of valvular regurgitation, the enlargement and the systolic function of the left ventricle. A “well-timed” AVR is defined by 1) postoperative improvement of clinical symptoms, decrease in left ventricular enddiastolic volume (EDV) and normalization of ejection fraction (EF) as well as by 2) greater improvement under surgical therapy as compared to conservative management. In “too early” AVR the latter condition is not fulfilled, while in “too late” AVR the first condition is not accomplished. In this study 54 patients with chronic aortic incompetence were evaluated by RNV to see whether these three groups (“too early”, “well-timed”, “too late” AVR, resp.) can be separated by the relation between EDV and regurgitant volume (RV), the level of the EDV and the clinical status. The examination was based on pre- and postoperative RNV studies as well as on follow-up studies. A good postoperative result can be expected in cases with a preoperative EDV/RV- ratio similar to that observed in 30 patients with AR in whom AVR was not indicated. In contrast, in the majority of those cases with an EDV/RV-ratio exceeding this normal range the postoperative outcome will be unsatisfactory. If the EDV/RV-ratio is normal, AVR should be performed in cases with an EDV exceeding 400 ml, while in cases with an EDV between 300 and 400 ml AVR is only indicated in the presence of additional symptoms (NYHA > II). In general, AVR is not required in AR patients with an EDV below 300 ml. In cases with an EDV > 300 ml and an EDV/RV-ratio exceeding the normal range, AVR should not be deferred though the postoperative result may be unsatisfactory especially in cases with long-standing left ventricular dysfunction.

Arnold-Chiari malformation. Review of 71 cases.

The natural history of symptomatic adult Type I Arnold-Chiari malformation (ACM) is variable, and the value of surgery in the management of this disease is difficult to assess. A series of 71 patients in whom a diagnosis of Type I ACM was confirmed at operation is presented, and the progress of the patients following posterior fossa decompression is analyzed. The length of history varied greatly. Pain was the commonest symptom (69% of patients); other symptoms included weakness (56%), numbness (52%), and unsteadiness (40%). The presenting physical signs consisted of a foramen magnum compression syndrome (22%), central cord syndrome (65%), or a cerebellar syndrome (11%). Myelography was performed in 69 patients, and was the most useful investigation. Only 23% of plain radiographs were abnormal. In addition to tonsillar descent, the operative findings included arachnoid adhesions (41%) and syringomyelia (32%). All patients underwent suboccipital craniectomy and C1-3 laminectomy. Respiratory depression was the most frequent postoperative complication (14%), and one patient died from sleep apnea. Early postoperative improvement of both symptoms (82%) and signs (70%) was followed by later relapse in 21% of patients, showing an initial benefit following surgery. None of the patients with a cerebellar syndrome deteriorated, whereas 56% of patients with evidence of foramen magnum compression and 66% of those with a central cord syndrome maintained their initial improvement. The authors conclude that posterior fossa decompression appears to benefit some patients, although a significant proportion might be expected to relapse within 2 to 3 years after operation, depending upon the presenting syndrome.

Computer-based analysis of preoperative and postoperative prognostic factors in 100 patients with combined aortic and mitral valve replacement.

From 1963 to 1971, aortic and mitral valves were replaced in 100 patients; 22 died in hospital. Follow-up in survivors is 100%. Catheterization was performed preoperatively in 99 patients and postoperatively in 85% of survivors. The influence of 19 preoperative potential risk factors on hospital mortality, postoperative symptomatic improvement, and long-term survival (assessed by monthly cohort-adjusted survival tables) was determined. Long-term survival was also assessed by comparing average values of the various risk factors in patients surviving 1, 2, and 3 years with values in patients who died during these intervals. In addition, changes induced by operation were studied 6 months postoperatively and their value in predicting subsequent longevity assessed. Significant ( P < 0.05) findings were: a higher hospital mortality in patients with left atrial pressures ≥30 mm Hg or with fabric-covered valves; less postoperative symptomatic improvement in older patients; lower long-term survival rate in men and in patients with high left atrial, right atrial, pulmonary arterial, or right ventricular end-diastolic pressures. A decrease in radiographic heart size or a New York Heart Association class I or II status 6 months postoperatively was associated with a favorable subsequent prognosis. Postoperative hemodynamic values did not predict subsequent survival.