Tagungsankuendigung:

1. INTERNET-WORKSHOP fuer Angehoerige der Medizinberufe
Datum: 17.Januar 1998
Ort: Herzzentrum Voelklingen
Veranstalter: Herzzentrum VK Kardiologie
Sponsor: Schwarz-Pharma

Anmeldungen an:
Sekretariat Kardiologie Herzzentrum VK
r.math…@t-online.de

–
Prof.Hennersdorf (g.hennersd…@rz.uni-sb.de)
http://www.med.de/alkk/hzvk/hzv_vk1.htm

–
Prof.Hennersdorf (g.hennersd…@rz.uni-sb.de)
http://www.med.de/alkk/hzvk/hzv_vk1.htm

Had mi in 85 some scarring caused mild episodes of multiple pvc’s, very
bothersome, but tests indicated non-life threatening. had some problems
with potassium that increased pvc’s. this  past week ended up going to
emergency room, very light headed pulse down to 40, from a normal resting
rate of 60. after a couple of hours at the ER, rate was back to normal,
potassium level tested at 3.5.
Same evening rate down to 40 again.
Went to see new cardiologist, decided to take me off Moduretic, next day
normal heart rate,? this is the second day, very few pvc’s. Dr. wants my
potassium level between 4 and 5. Comments Please.

The newsgroup for people affected with or concerned by the Marfan
syndrome:      alt.support.marfan

Visit the National Marfan Foundation Web site at:  
               http://www.marfan.org/
E-mail the NMF staff at: st…@marfan.org

The National Marfan Foundation is located at 382 Main Street,
Port Washington, NY  11050.  Telephone:  1-800-8-MARFAN
An informative booklet on the Marfan syndrome is available
upon request.  Become a member of the NMF and recieve the
quarterly, "Connective Issues".

Marfan syndrome is a heritable disorder of the connective tissue
which can affect the following body systems:

      1.  The skeletal system: An affected individual will often
          be tall, slender, and somewhat loose-jointed or limber.
          The arms, legs, fingers and toes may be disproportionately
          long when compared to the trunk; the face may appear long and
          narrow in keeping with the general body shape.  Scoliosis may
          be present.  A protruding or indented breastbone (pectus
          carinatum or excavatum) may also be present.
      2.  The eyes: The lens of the eye is off-center or dislocated
          (ectopia lentis) in about 50% of people with Marfan.  Detection
          is possible only through fully enlarging (dilating) the pupils
          with eye drops. A slit lamp then must be used for examination.
          Dislocation of the lens occurs in relatively few other conditions,
          and is, therefore, an important hallmark of Marfan syndrome when
          present.
      3.  The lungs:  Pneumothroax, or spontaneous collapse of a lung.
      4.  The heart and blood vessels:  Mitral valve prolaspe occurs in 75-
          85% of people with the syndrome.  However, m.v.p occurs in 5% of
          general population, and is not in and of itself diagnostic of
          Marfan.  Mitral valve regurgitation can occur.  As well dilation
          of the aorta (widening often referred to as an aneurysm) can result
          in a dissection or rupturing of the aorta.  A dilation or a
          dissection for that matter can only be detected through the use
          of an echocardiogram or MRI.

It must be stressed that all of the preceding symptoms need not be present
in order for a person to be diagnosed with the Marfan syndrome.  A
variety exists in manifestation.  As well, it can not be assumed by sight
that since a person appears healthy, he or she is unaffected.  Cases in
point are the NBA players as well as Flo Hyman, the Olympic volleyball
player who all succumbed to the syndrome mid sports career.  

Mutations or spontaneous occurances can occur in the syndrome.
There is a 50-50 chance that the offspring of a person affected will
also be affected.  The syndrome does not skip generations.

There is hope once diagnosed.  Follow-up monitoring (usually done annually
unless otherwise needed); treatment with beta blockers (to ease pressure
on the heart); and if necessary, surgery to repair valve or aortic dilation
(done with great success and improving yearly) all offer positive results.

The essential nature of diagnosis should be evident.  No specific lab
test exists at this time.  It is important therefore to be seen by
physicians and subsequently echo and MRI technicians knowledgable
with the Marfan syndrome.

Best wishes,

Angela

The October 1997 issue of the Harvard Heart Letter had an article
reviewing the December 19, 1996 New England Journal of Medicine report
on brain complications following CABG.

The article states that 3.1% had Type I complications and another 3 %
had Type II complications.  Type I is death due to stroke, stroke,
near-stroke or coma at the time of discharge.  Type II is abnormalities
suggesting milder damage to the brain such as confusion, deterioration
of intellect, agitation, disorientation, memory loss, etc.

The rates of these complications varied from 1% to 14% among 23
different institutions.

The absolute level of 6.1 % for Type 1 plus Type II is appalling but the
factor of 14 variation between institutions is more than appalling.

That leads to the logical questions:

1. What is the cause of a 6.1 % brain damage rate?

2. What can be done to mitigate the problem?

3. How can one select a surgeon and/or anesthesiologist with a low
complication rate?

4. How do you find the institutions with a low complication rate?

Jay

The HEMOX ANALYZER is the sole automatic system for the recording of
blood oxygen equilibrium curves
and related phenomena. The recording can be performed in the association
or dissociation modes, utilizing
fresh whole blood or hemolysate. A recording can be performed with as
little as 2 micro liter of blood, but
for routine measurement it is best to use 30 to 50 micro liters.
Currently the information is plotted on chart
recorder for analysis.

The manufacturers of the Hemox Analyzer have developed a software
package solution for analyzing the data collected (real-time) and
subsequently produces the Oxygen Equilibrium Curve, p50 (and other p
values), the Hill Plot, Hill Derivative Plot and Hill numbers, the log
of pO2 and various other calculations.  The software has a release date
scheduled for first quarter 1998.

If you have any other suggestions which would help produce an even more
robust application solution, then please email your suggestions to
vrei…@tcssci.com.  Feel free to visit http:tcssci.com for more
information on the Hemox Analyzer.

I shall be glad to dialogue on themes:

Method Fontan at children of early age.
Guard of the myocardium for want of operations on heart.

http://www.glasnet.ru/~movses

Dr. Bowowski’s 1998 Calendar is a great gift for anyone in the medical
profession as well as the perfect calendar for any medical office.  Enjoy
the humorous situations and curious antics that take place in the clinic of
Dr. Bowowski – a doctor who looks an awful lot lot a dog.  You’ll also find
interesting medical trivia each month so you’ll always have something to
talk about around the office.

Hurry!  The new year will be here before you know it.  Visit the web site
below for more information and sample comics from the calendar.

http://www.lakeonline.com/bowowski/

"Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia and Its Treatment"

a Continuing Medical Education Program

Tuesday, November 25, 1997
Mount Sinai Hospital Auditorium – 18th Floor
600 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

For details about the program and registration information,
visit "Clinical Symposium Associates" Web Page at

        http://www.hwcn.org/~ak013/Profile.html

Clinical Symposium Associates
c…@hwcn.org                  

–
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
                        Clinical Symposium Associates
        Sponsor of Continuing Medical and Health Education Programs
        E-mail: c…@hwcn.org  URL: http://www.hwcn.org/~ak013/Profile.html
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

I have been advised by my cardiologist, after having an angiogram,
that I have moderate to severe aortic stenosis due to calcification of
the aortic valve.
I have the choice of a natural valve which requires further
replacement in 10-15 years (I am 57 years old) or go to a mechanical
valve which requires a permanent regime of Warfarin. (I have slightly
raised chlorestrol count and am on Zocor which has a reaction with the
anti-coagulant).
Since being told of the operation I have shed weight (nearly 8kg from
my earlier weight of 103kg). I feel great and can walk quite briskly,
but not up hills without getting puffed and some minor chest pain.
If you were in my position, would you put off the operation until one
couldn’t do the more baisc things of life?
Also, when you come to having the operation whcih type of valve would
you choose and what criteria would you use to make that choice?

Greetings,
     Has anyone had experience with a vascular shunt?  My father had one
recently, but his cardiologist thinks it is clogging again, so he may
need angioplasty next.  Is there any information available on how long
these shunts remain effective, the prognosis for this surgery, and the
possible complications?  Thank you.

——————————————————–
Cynthia Rabuck
E-Mail: rab…@auhs.edu
——————————————————–