Myocardial ischemia after orthotopic liver transplantation

A hypercoagulable state exists after orthotopic liver transplantation. This hematologic abnormality may predispose patients to coronary thrombosis and unstable angina. The incidence of post-operative myocardial ischemia in such patients is unknown. Suitable electrocardiograms and clinical events of consecutive patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (n = 45) and major intraabdominal surgery (n = 28) during a 3-month period at a major university teaching hospital and transplant center were examined retrospectively. Clinical myocardial ischemia or ischemic electrocardiographic changes, or both, occurred in 6 transplant patients compared with no patient in the nontransplant or comparison group. In 4 of the 6 patients with dramatic electrocardiographic changes and ischemic events, coronary arteriography failed to demonstrate significant obstructive disease. It is concluded that severe myocardial ischemia may occur in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation in the absence of significant coronary disease. A hypercoagulable state may predispose to coronary thrombosis in this setting, providing insight (and a future model for study) into the development of unstable angina. © 1994

Non-invasive measurement of cholesterol in human blood by impedance technique: an investigation by 2D finite element field modelling

This paper concerns detection of solid particles suspended in conductive media by impedance technique. The technique is based on changes in impedance measured between two electrodes placed across a given volume of conducting medium. It presents a methodology for modelling and investigation of the feasibility of such a technique for particle detection by 2D finite element (FE) field modelling. This is based on modelling and computation of electric field distribution between the above electrodes. It establishes the modelling approach, the complexity involved and justifies the need for modelling in 3D to incorporate some of the effects that cannot be taken into account in 2D models. It reports on the modelling investigation for a specific case of detecting, by impedance technique cholesterol particles suspended in human blood and points to a possible instrument for non-invasive measurement of blood cholesterol level