Twenty years' experience with the Model 6120 Starr-Edwards valve in the mitral position.

A total of 549 nonconsecutive patients underwent isolated mitral valve replacement with a Starr-Edwards valve prosthesis (Model 6120) at the University of Louvain (Belgium) from 1965 to 1985. Ninety-seven percent of the patients could be traced and only 17 patients were lost to follow-up. Cumulative follow-up totalled 3,130 patient-years. Actuarial and linearized statistical techniques were used to describe the survival and the incidence of valve-related complications (according to stringent criteria). Long-term overall survival rate including early deaths was 79% +/- 0.02% at 5 years, 65% +/- 0.03% at 10 years, and 54% +/- 0.04% at 19 years, with a linearized incidence of late deaths of 3.9% +/- 0.5% per patient-year. The incidence of late valve-related deaths was 1.25% per patient-year. Valve-related complications occurred at the following rates: thromboembolism 3.1% per patient-year, anticoagulant-related hemorrhage 1.08% per patient-year, endocarditis 0.26% per patient-year, reoperation and periprosthetic leak 0.45% per patient-year, and structural failure 0% per patient-year. All valve-related mortality and morbidity were calculated at 4.9% per patient-year and the rate of valve failure (deaths and reoperations) at 1.4% per patient-year. Among 376 survivors, 352 clinical functions could be obtained: 95% of patients belong to Class I or II of the New York Heart Association after operation versus 24% before operation. The study shows the structural durability of the Starr-Edwards mitral valve with a follow-up over 20 years. The Model 6120 valve may be considered a faithful standard

Emergencies and somatization.

The article presents the clinical profile of 72 patients with somatization seen by a psychiatric team at the request of somaticians in a emergency service in St Luc hospital (Brussels-Belgium). These include 37.5% of mood disorders, 11% of psychotic disorders and 20% of serious anxiety disorders. The psychiatric antecedents of these patients are very poor. Only the combined intervention of the somatician and the psychiatrist can improve the compliance and the level of psychiatric care which is very low

PaCO2/ETCO2 gradient: early indicator of thrombolysis efficacy in a massive pulmonary embolism

End tidal CO2 measurement may be helpful in detecting the efficacy of thrombolysis after a massive pulmonary embolism. We report the case of a 76-year-old man with a massive pulmonary embolism, who required early intubation and mechanical ventilation. Thrombolysis with rtpA (total dosage: 60 mg) was initiated. During this procedure, clinical data, arterial blood gases and end-tidal CO, with a capnograph were recorded. Before thrombolysis the P(a-ET)CO2 gradient was raised to 25 mmHg. During thrombolysis, the clinical data improved and the P(a-ET) gradient fell to 14 mmHg. We postulate that the P(a-ET)CO2 gradient seems to be a reasonable indicator of efficacy of thrombolysis in this setting. However. the gradient did not return to normal values(45 mmHg). The possible reasons for this may be that during mechanical ventilation there was a large ventilation- perfusion ratio and the cardiac output may have still reduced. With these limitations, we conclude that the P(a-ET)CO2 gradient should be evaluated as an indicator of pulmonary reperfusion in massive pulmonary embolism. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Scintigraphy With Indium-labeled Leukocytes in Acute-pancreatitis

The authors assessed the clinical and prognostic value of abdominal (ASCl) and pulmonary (PSCl) scintiscans with Indium-111-labelled leukocytes in the early phase of acute pancreatitis. A grading scale was constructed for both ASCl (scored 0 to 3) and PSCl (scored 0 to 2) according to the intensity of isotope fixation versus adjacent structures. Results were compared in accordance to the presence or absence of a Ranson's score greater-than-or-equal-to 3, the presence or absence of respiratory failure and of late pancreatic complications. ASCl showed an important lack of specificity making its use uninteresting. PSCl revealed a very significant correlation with evaluation by Ranson's score and appears to have a high sensitivity and specificity to evaluate the patients who will develop ARDS or risk of ARDS. This demonstrates the pathophysiological role of leukocytes in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis. The test might also be a reliable test for the assessment of therapeutic efficiency in acute pancreatitis

Scintigraphy with Indium-labelled leukocytes in acute pancreatitis.

The authors assessed the clinical and prognostic value of abdominal (ASCI) and pulmonary (PSCI) scintiscans with 111Indium-labelled leukocytes in the early phase of acute pancreatitis. A grading scale was constructed for both ASCI (scored 0 to 3) and PSCI (scored 0 to 2) according to the intensity of isotope fixation versus adjacent structures. Results were compared in accordance to the presence or absence of a Ranson's score greater than or equal to 3, the presence or absence of respiratory failure and of late pancreatic complications. ASCI showed an important lack of specificity making its use uninteresting. PSCI revealed a very significant correlation with evaluation by Ranson's score and appears to have a high sensitivity and specificity to evaluate the patients who will develop ARDS or risk of ARDS. This demonstrates the pathophysiological role of leukocytes in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis. The test might also be a reliable test for the assessment of therapeutic efficiency in acute pancreatitis