Kappa-opioid receptor antagonism improves recovery from myocardial stunning in chronically instrumented dogs.

We tested the hypothesis that the selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI) improves recovery from myocardial stunning. Ten dogs were chronically instrumented for measurement of heart rate, left atrial, aortic and left ventricular pressure (LVP), and the maximum rate of LVP increase (LV dP/dt(max)) and decrease (LV dP/dt(max)), coronary blood flow velocity and myocardial wall-thickening fraction. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined with fluorescent microspheres.

Amniotic air insufflation during minimally invasive fetoscopic fetal cardiac interventions is safe for the fetal brain in sheep.

Background: Amniotic air insufflation during experimental fetoscopic fetal cardiac interventions greatly improves the visualization of intra-amniotic contents. The purpose of this study was to assess any histologically discernible effects from this approach on the fetal brain after short-term studies and long-term survival in sheep.

Methods: Thirty pregnant ewes between 80 and 110 days of gestation underwent amniotic air insufflation during various fetoscopic fetal cardiac interventions.

Xenon improves recovery from myocardial stunning in chronically instrumented dogs.

In this study we tested the hypothesis that inhalational administration of xenon improves recovery from myocardial stunning. Ten dogs were chronically instrumented for measurement of heart rate; left atrial, aortic, and left ventricular pressure; coronary blood-flow velocity; and myocardial wall-thickening fraction. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined with fluorescent microspheres.

A-type and B-type natriuretic peptides in cardiac surgical procedures.

Unlabelled: This study was performed to determine the secretion pattern and prognostic value of A-type (ANP) and B-type (BNP) natriuretic peptide in patients undergoing cardiac surgical procedures. We measured ANP and BNP in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with (n = 28) or without (n = 32) ventricular dysfunction and in patients undergoing mitral (n = 21) or aortic (n = 24) valve replacement, respectively. Postoperative mortality was recorded up to 730 days after operation.

Reversible cardiac sympathectomy by high thoracic epidural anesthesia improves regional left ventricular function in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: a randomized trial.

Hypothesis: To evaluate the effects of high thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA) on global and regional myocardial function and on perioperative coronary risk in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Prospective and randomized clinical trial blinded for the primary outcome measure of 73 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting who had a left ventricular ejection fraction of 50% or more conducted from February 1, 2000, through August 31, 2000, at University Hospital, Münster, Germany.

Interventions: Of 73 randomized patients, 37 were control subjects (who received general anesthesia only) and 36 were in the group who received general anesthesia and high TEA.

Intra-amniotic multimodal fetal echocardiography in sheep: a novel imaging approach during fetoscopic interventions and for assessment of high-risk pregnancies in which conventional imaging methods fail.

During fetoscopic interventions, intraesophageal placement of intravascular ultrasound (US) catheters for fetal hemodynamic monitoring may result in esophageal injury in very small fetuses. Moreover, conventional fetal imaging by the transvaginal or transabdominal routes may be impossible in some high-risk pregnancies. The purpose of our study in sheep was to assess the potential of a phased-array intravascular US catheter for intra-amniotic fetal echocardiography.

Naloxone improves splanchnic perfusion in conscious dogs through effects on the central nervous system.

Background: In patients undergoing colonoscopy, naloxone has vasodilative properties. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is mediated by central or peripheral mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these effects are mediated by an effect of naloxone on the central nervous system.