Publications by authors named "Amir Abolhoda"

Myoepithelioma of the soft tissue is a rare entity that can mimic myxoma when presenting within the heart. We present a case where cardiopulmonary bypass venous cannula extraction catheter removal of an intracardiac myoepithelioma was attempted with minimal debulking and subsequently required minimally invasive open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. ().

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Lung resection surgery carries significant risks of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is performed to predict risk of PPC in patients with severely reduced predicted postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and diffusion of carbon monoxide (DLCO). Recently, resting end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PETCO) has been shown as a good predictor for increased risk of PPC.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize the clinical outcomes and learning curve during the adoption of a robotic platform for lobectomy for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer by a thoracic surgeon experienced in open thoracotomy.

Methods: Retrospective review of 157 consecutive patients (57 open thoracotomies, 100 robotic lobectomies) treated with lobectomy for clinical stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer between 2007 and 2014. Clinical outcomes were compared between the open thoracotomy group and five consecutive groups of 20 robotic lobectomies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - In a study on small-cell lung cancers (SCLCs), researchers found that levels of the tumor antigen glioma big potassium (gBK) increased at the time of death compared to when the cancer was first surgically treated, raising questions about the role of treatment in this process.
  • - The analysis involved examining lung cancer samples using a technique that quantified 42 potential tumor-antigen precursor proteins (TAPPs) and found that 22 TAPP mRNAs had increased expressions in autopsy samples compared to surgical samples.
  • - The results suggest that as SCLC tumors react to chemotherapy, more immune system targets become available, indicating a potentially adaptive response of the tumor during its decline.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Big Potassium (BK) ion channels have several splice variants. One splice variant initially described within human glioma cells is called the glioma BK channel (gBK). Using a gBK-specific antibody, we detected gBK within three human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lines.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Public reporting of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) mortality in California was initiated in 2003. Drug-eluting stents were widely introduced in the same year. Adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and CABG were analyzed to study the impact of these events.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Molecular target therapies using first-generation, reversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), such as gefitinib or erlotinib, have been shown to be effective for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who harbor activating mutations in EGFR. However, these patients eventually develop resistance to the reversible TKIs, and this has led to the development of second-generation, irreversible EGFR inhibitors. Currently, the mechanism of acquired resistance to irreversible EGFR inhibitors is not clear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Intravenous leiomyomatosis is a rare condition that has been described as being associated with venous occlusion by direct intravascular tumor extension, typically from a pelvic organ. We report an exceedingly rare case of intravenous leiomyomatosis extending into the inferior vena cava, leading to pulmonary embolism, hepatic venous outflow obstruction, and an acute Budd-Chiari syndrome. This is the second reported patient with intravenous leiomyomatosis with Budd-Chiari syndrome and, to our knowledge, the first reported patient who survived with surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Postoperative thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (pTTP) after cardiovascular operations has an alarmingly high mortality rate if untreated. Five patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure were diagnosed with pTTP when they were observed to have a persistent thrombocytopenia associated with symptoms of fever, renal insufficiency, thromboembolic events, or altered mental status in conjunction with a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA). A guideline for early diagnosis, followed by timely treatment in these cases, is reviewed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bronchopleural fistula and empyema are serious complications after thoracic surgical procedures, and their prevention is paramount. Herein, we review our experience with routine prophylactic use of the pedicled ipsilateral latissimus dorsi muscle flap. From January 2004 through February 2006, 10 surgically high-risk patients underwent intrathoracic transposition of this muscle flap for reinforcement of bronchial-stump closure or obliteration of empyema cavities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Previous research indicates that computed tomography (CT) is effective for detecting blood clots in the heart, but it can sometimes show false positives in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) due to blood pooling in the left atrial appendage (LAA).
  • - In a study of 7 AF patients compared to 250 healthy individuals, 5 AF patients showed filling defects in the LAA on CT scans, but follow-up tests ruled out actual blood clots; healthy individuals exhibited no such defects.
  • - AF patients had larger LAA volumes and different filling patterns compared to healthy individuals, suggesting that the observed defects are often pseudothrombi and not true clots.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of 64-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) to visualize the interatrial septum related to patent foramen ovale (PFO) anatomy and detect left-to-right PFO shunts, comparing results with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).
  • Conducted on 264 patients, the study analyzed various PFO characteristics, including tunnel dimensions and the presence of atrial septal aneurysms (ASA), using a grading system for shunt severity based on contrast agent jet length.
  • Results indicated that a flap valve was present in 38.3% of patients, and 16.7% exhibited left-to-right shunts, with significant findings regarding tunnel
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To retrospectively investigate anatomy of Bachmann Bundle (BB) and its vascular supply at 64-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) in healthy patients and patients with abnormalities.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant study and waived informed consent. Clinical histories, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and coronary 64-section multidetector CT angiograms in 317 patients were reviewed (healthy group, 164; group with abnormalities, 153).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The purpose of this study was to use 64-MDCT to investigate the anatomic characteristics of the S-shaped variant of the sinoatrial node (SAN) artery and to describe the clinical implications of the findings in ablative procedures involving the left atrium.

Materials And Methods: Coronary CT angiograms of 250 patients (152 men, 98 women; mean age, 60 +/- 12 [SD] years) were retrospectively analyzed for identification of the origin, number, anatomic course, mode of termination, and S-shaped variant of the SAN artery.

Results: At least one SAN artery was detected in 244 patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Transposition of extrathoracic muscle flaps has been the cornerstone of treatment of a number of complex intrathoracic pathologies such as bronchopleural fistulas and residual infected pleural spaces. We present a simple step-wise technique for preservation and harvesting of the most common muscle flap employed by thoracic surgeons, namely latissimus dorsi, just prior to performing a standard posterolateral thoracotomy. Since 2004, we have successfully utilized pedicled latissimus muscle as our preferred prophylactic flap against development of postoperative bronchopleural fistulas or recurrent empyemas.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To retrospectively evaluate the depiction of anatomic characteristics of the arterial supply to the sinuatrial node (SAN) and the atrioventricular node (AVN) with 64-section computed tomography (CT).

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board approved this HIPAA-compliant study; informed consent was not required. Anatomic origin, number, course, and variants of the arteries to the SAN and AVN were examined with coronary multidetector CT in 102 patients (55 men, 47 women; mean age, 57 years +/- 13 [standard deviation]).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Favorable long-term patient outcome after insertion of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as a bridge to recovery or destination therapy for the treatment of end-stage cardiomyopathy is adversely affected by pathophysiologic changes affecting the heart. Alterations in the native aortic valve apparatus, specifically aortic valve cusp fusion, is an example of such a phenomenon and may especially affect patients in cases of bridge to recovery, a rare but reported event. A retrospective review of the last 33 LVAD placements at our institution was conducted, including reviews of operative reports and pathologic examinations of the native hearts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF