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The year 2006 was a landmark in interventional cardiology. Confirmations of results of large-scale trials and meta analyses, the commercialisation of new drug-elution stents, discussions about well established methods, questions about long-term outcomes of dilated patients, have made 2006 a particularly rich year in controversy, especially during its last three months.

We describe here the MRI surveillance of septal alcohol ablation in a case of symptomatic obstructive cardiomyopathy. MRI examinations were performed before, 15 days and 2 months after alcohol ablation using an identical protocol to study the function, regional perfusion and the equilibrium perfusion in order to directly visualize the infarction. MRI seems to be an excellent investigation in the surveillance of such patients, allowing precise quantification of the infarcted zone. The various stages of cellular necrosis in the induced infarct were demonstrated, and the role of remodelling in increasing the functional area of the systolic ejection pathway.

During 2005, the evolution of interventional cardiology has largely been dominated by the trial of active endoprostheses, whose advantage has been consistently shown by various studies, mete-analyses and surveys. Extending their use to new indications and evaluating new drugs have also been studied. In parallel, clinical trials have been performed in the promising field of percutaneous treatment of valvular heart disease, particularly mitral insufficiency and calcified aortic stenosis in the adult.

The in-hospital management and short- and long-term outcomes was assessed in 2 registries of consecutive patients admitted for acute myocardial infarction, 5 years apart, in France. The 2000 cohort was younger and with a less frequent history of cardiac diseases, but was more often diabetic and with anterior infarcts. Time to admission was actually longer in 2000 than in 1995 (median 5.25 hours vs 4.00 hours). Overall, reperfusion therapy was used in 43% of the patients in both registries. However, the use of reperfusion therapy increased from 1995 to 2000 in patients admitted within 6 hours of symptom onset (64 vs 58%), with an increasing use of primary angioplasty (from 12 to 30%). Five-day mortality significantly improved from 7.7 to 6.1% (p < 0.03) and one-year survival was also less in the most recent period (85 vs 81%, p < 0.01). Multivariate analyses showed that the period of inclusion (2000 vs 1995) was an independent predictor of both short- and long-term mortality in patients admitted within 6 hours of symptom onset. Thus, in the real world setting, a continued decline in one-year mortality was observed in patients admitted to intensive care units for recent acute myocardial infarction, especially for patients admitted early. This goes along with a shift in reperfusion therapy towards a broader use of primary angioplasty, and with an increased use of the early prescription of recognised secondary prevention medications.

In the last decade, acute coronary syndromes without ST elevation (ACS ST-) have become a clinical entity encompassing previous technologies such as acute coronary insufficiency and non-Q wave myocardial infarction. The recognition of its risks and, above all, the development and adaptation of medical and interventional strategies have transformed the prognosis. Patients presenting with ACS ST- are not all identical and do not all have the same prognosis; based on this observation, a number of prognostic scores have been proposed which help decide whether to use drugs such as GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors or coronary angioplasty. Conservative and aggressive strategies are opposing choices but risk stratification allows the treating physician to take a safe decision in the majority of cases. Besides angioplasty and GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors, the basic treatment (aspirin, low molecular weight heparin, clopidogrel, betablockers) should of course be prescribed and its efficacy has contributed to a better outcome in these patients. The recommendations of the scientific societies have evolved with time and increased understanding, allowing an evidence-based approach to the management of ACS ST- patients.

The annual inquiry by the "Angiography and Interventional Cardiology Group" of the French Society of Cardiology has allowed the evolution of interventional cardiology in France between 1991 and 2000 to be monitored. The results of the 2000 inquiry have been analysed in particular. The number of coronarography centres has increased by 27% in 10 years, growing from 173 in 1991 to stabilise at 220, and the number of centres performing percutaneous coronary angioplasty grew from 128 to 175 (+27%) at the same time. The number of coronarographies increased by 79% (131,636 to 236,111), and angioplasties increased by 197% (30,885 to 91,901). In the year 2000, angiographic procedures represented 39% of coronarographies, against 23% in 1991. Endoprosthesis implantation constitutes the principal revolution of this decade, the number of procedures growing from 393 to 77,388 between 1991 and 2000, some 84.2% of angioplasties, and a total number of endoprostheses of 107,869 (1.39 stents per procedure). The other revascularisation techniques remain anecdotal, representing only 1.9% of procedures. In 2000, at the 135 centres supplying detailed information, direct stenting represented 38.5% of procedures, and the indications for restenosis were 9.9%. The number of interventions performed in the public or private sector is almost identical for each category, only morphological or functional explorations remain the privilege of the public sector in the university setting. The activity of the University Hospitals Centres has noticeably and regularly decreased since 1991, falling from 39.2% to 28.7% of coronarographies and from 41.8% to 31.1% of angioplasties in 2000.

Seven hundred patients operated consecutively by the same surgical team for atheromatous stenosis of the aortic bifurcation were followed up for 20 years with only 5 patients lost to follow-up. There were 94.5% of men with a mean age of 58 years. The operative mortality was 2.7% with few deaths due to true cardiovascular causes (0.7% of patients). The secondary mortality was very high with two main causes: cancer (39% of patients) and cardiovascular diseases (37%). Other causes were responsible for only 24% of deaths. The principal complications of the prostheses were: infection (0.6% of operated patients), thrombosis (6.7%), pseudo-aneurysm of the aorta (1.57%) and pseudo-aneurysm of Scarpa's triangle (4%). The benefits of surgery are unquestionable both on terms of survival, as amputation, bed confinement and invalidity are avoided, and in terms of function, as amputation was avoided in 84% of the 32% of patients in Stages III or IV before surgery. Only 5% of patients were amputed during the observation period. Moreover, 79% of survivors had a good functional result at 15 years. Improvement of results depends on better hygienic measures, systematic screening for high risk cancers and a better management of the arterial disease with early treatment of other arterial diseases (coronary, carotid) in order to reduce postoperative and mostly medium- and long-term cardiovascular mortality.

The efficacy of a system of active diastolic synchronised coronary perfusion was studied during prolonged balloon angioplasty in 8 sheep. In the first part of the study (group 1) including 5 animals, the aim was to study the effects of high and constant flow (48 ml/min) for 90 minutes perfusion on haemolysis, the arterial wall and the perfused myocardium. The second part of the study (group 2), including 3 animals, assessed whether flow adapted to the extent of the vascular bed perfused (24 to 40 ml/min) could protect the myocardium for an interval of 60 minutes. In group 1, after 90 minutes of perfusion (48 ml/min), there was no haemolysis, or jet lesion of the arterial wall distal to the catheter tip. On the other hand, the creatinine phosphokinase levels increased at the 60th minute (188 vs 119 i.u./l for controls) and at the 90th minute (238 vs 119 i.u./l; p < 0.05). Moreover, the perfused myocardium was the site of histological lesions. These observations showed myocardial changes due to the "overflow phenomenon". In group 2, the flow rate was adapted to each animal, increasing progressively until disappearance of electrocardiographic signs of ischaemia (ST elevation) and maintained for 60 minutes. No signs of haemolysis, jet lesions or myocardial changes were observed, with absence of creatinine phosphokinase elevation and histological abnormalities. These preliminary results show that the system investigated allowed myocardial protection after arterial occlusion for an interval of 60 minutes.

The possibilities of diagnosis and quantification of aortic regurgitation by pulsed Doppler analysis of blood flow in the aortic arch were examined in 60 patients aged between 9 and 67 years old. Aortic flow curves were recorded from the suprasternal area with the sample volume positioned at the junction of the horizontal part of the aortic arch and the descending aorta. Normal flow curves are characterised by an anterograde systolic wave with a brief proto-diastolic reflux. In aortic regurgitation holodiastolic reflux is observed. An index of regurgitation may be calculated from the ratio of the amplitude of end diastolic reflux measured on the R wave of th ECG and the maximal amplitude of anterograde systolic flow. This ratio eliminates the factor related to the incident angle between the ultrasound beam and the direction of blood flow. The values of this ratio were compared to the semi quantitative assessment of aortic regurgitation from ascending aortic angiography. The only false negatives were observed in patients with negligible regurgitation (grade I). One false positive result was obtained in a patient in whom it was difficult to obtain the recording and in whom the value of the ratio was very low (0,02). Global specificity was 91 p. 100 and sensitivity was 82 p. 100. The sensitivity for average or severe regurgitation was 100 p. 100. The correlation coefficient between the Doppler index or regurgitation and the semi quantitative angiographic estimation was 0,69. In patients with pure aortic regurgitation the correlation reached 0,85 (p less than 0,001). The differences between the different groups then became highly significant.

Plasma (pl), red blood cell (ery) and urinary magnesium (Mg) concentrations were measured by spectrophotometry in over 300 patients at the Cardiology Department of Broussais Hospital. Other biological parameters, including pl and ery potassium, calcium and phosphate concentrations were measured simultaneously. In a control group (54 subjects) the mean pl Mg was 0,851 mmol/l in men and 0,819 mmol/l in women; mean ery Mg was 2,12 mmol/l and 2,09 mmol/l respectively. Magnesium depletion was observed in several pathological cardiovascular conditions: -- mitral valve prolapse: the Mg levels were significantly lower in women (19 cases) (pl Mg 0,740 mmol/l; ery Mg 1,83 mmol/l: p less than 0,001); the deficit was less pronounced in men: pl Mg 0,829 mmol/l, p less than 0,01, and ery Mg 2,01 mmol/l (NS); -- recurrent junctional tachycardia (21 cases): the Mg levels were significantly lower than normal: pl Mg = 0,796 mmol/l in men and 0,763 mmol/l in women; ery Mg = 1,93 and 1,88 mmol/l, respectively; -- coronary insufficiency (86 cases): pl Mg = 0,821 mmol/l in men and 0,768 mmol/l in women (p less than 0,001). In a subgroup with coronary spasm (22 cases), the mean ery Mg was decreased (2,01 mmol/l, p less than 0,05); -- unstable or labile hypertension (24 cases): the decrease was significant, especially in women (pl Mg = 0,796 mmol/l, ery Mg = 1,88 mmol/l). These magnesium deficits were sometimes associated with a low pl Ca, and often associated with a low ery K although pl K was usually raised. In some privileged cases of cardiac arrhythmia and coronary spasm, intravenous Mg repletion was beneficial but did not affect plasma concentrations. The role of magnesium depletion in cardiovascular disease remains obscure and requires further study.

Between June 1983 and September 1984, 3 patients operated for mitral valve disease presented with acute right heart failure due to right atrial compression. Emergency echocardiography did not show pericardial separation around the ventricles but in the apical 4 chamber view severe right atrial compression by an extracardiac mass was observed. Emergency surgery was performed in all three cases to evacuate a localised haemopericardium despite the absence of pericardial fusion. These cases of acute right ventricular failure underline the importance of multiplying the number of echocardiographic views in order to detect localised pericardial effusion. The diagnosis should be made as soon as possible as clinical deterioration may be rapid despite effusions of small volume. The main differential diagnoses are right atrial thrombosis and acute postoperative pulmonary embolism. In these cases of localised tamponade, the clinical signs are the result of vena caval compression or extrinsic compression of the tricuspid orifice. The preferential localisation of the haemopericardium around the right atrium is difficult to explain. It is probably related to the low pressures in this region. The echocardiographic appearances of this condition have been established allowing reliable diagnosis.

The number of patients who survive heart transplantation has considerably increased in recent years, but mortality during the first 3 months still reaches 10 to 20 p. 100 depending on the authors. Among the various causes of death, acute graft deficiency due to pulmonary arterial hypertension plays an important role. In most cases, pulmonary vascular resistance has been misevaluated or its progress has not been foreseen. Between January 1985 and June 1988, 96 heart transplantations were performed at the Broussais Hospital, Paris. We thought that pulmonary vascular resistance could be better evaluated by using dobutamine to mimick transplantation and to assess pulmonary pressure and resistance variations associated with the increase in cardiac output. High doses of dobutamine ranging from 10 to 30 mcg/kg/min were administered to bring the basal cardiac output level up to the theoretical output level or to increase it by 50 p. 100. The 96 patients who had heart transplantation during the aforementioned period were divided into two groups: group I comprised 35 patients who were transplanted before dobutamine was used, while group II comprised 61 patients for whom the dobutamine test was always considered. The mortality rate was 11.75 p. 100 (4/35) in group I and nil in group II as regards death from pulmonary arterial hypertension (p = 0.04). We demonstrate that a single resistance value is not reliable, even when it is normal, when the cardiac output is low. Furthermore, there is no threshold value for contraindication, and indexing resistance alters the scale of values but does not enable normality to be defined. By using the dobutamine test we were able to reduce considerably the mortality due to pulmonary arterial hypertension and also to exclude orthotopic transplantation in some patients.

This study reports our experience of 74 multiple coronary artery bypass, using either the two internal mammary arteries (IMA) (43 cases), or the left internal mammary artery (LIMA), alone for sequential bypass (31 cases). Comparison with a series of 200 patients operated upon in a previous period (1981-83), when the LIMA was used alone for single bypass, showed that post-operative mortality, post-operative infarction and mediastinitis were significantly more frequent with double bypass using the two IMA; similarly, the mid-term results seemed to be less satisfactory with the double IMA bypass technique. This difference was due to the fact that using the right and left IMA means longer dissection time, greater problems of haemostasis, stronger surgical trauma and prolonged exposure of the sternum, which is a source of infection. In addition, the right internal mammary artery (RIMA) being further away from the sites of coronary grafting lends itself less readily than the LIMA to this type of bypass, and it is often used for the right and marginal coronary artery which is less suitable for surgery. Using the LIMA alone for sequential bypass does not seem to produce more complications than using that vessel for single bypass. On the basis of the results obtained, we consider that the double IMA bypass should only be used when the internal saphenous vein bypass is contraindicated (past history of stripping, varices, fragile aorta forewarning of difficult grafting).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The reliability of pulsed Doppler echocardiography in the diagnosis and quantification of tricuspid regurgitation was assessed by analysis of blood flow in the inferior vena cava in 28 patients. The inferior vena caval flow was sampled in the retrohepatic portion of the vessel from the subxiphoid region. Recordings from 10 normal patients were used to define criteria of normality. This was characterised by two anterograde components (one systolic and one diastolic); atrial contraction gave rise to an end diastolic retrograde component. In tricuspid incompetence, retrograde systolic blood flow was recorded. A Doppler index was calculated from the ratio of the maximal amplitude of systolic reflux to the maximal amplitude of anterograde diastolic flow. In the absence of tricuspid regurgitation, this index approximated 0. The average of this ratio over 10 consecutive beats was compared with the semi quantitative assessment of tricuspid regurgitation from selective right ventricular angiography. There were no false positive results, specificity was, therefore, 100 p. 100. Six minimal regurgitations were not detected: sensitivity was therefore 74 p. 100. All moderate and severe regurgitations were detected, and the sensitivity for these cases was 100 p. 100. There was a close correlation (R = 0,89, p less than 0,01) between the Doppler index and the degree of regurgitation assessed by selective right ventricular angiography.

Long-term studies (10 years) show a 50 per cent patency rate of saphenous vein autograft and 95 per cent patency rate of internal mammary artery coronary bypass grafts. In some situations (after saphenous vein stripping, varicose and fibrotic veins) it is not possible to use venous grafts and the internal mammary artery has to be used. However, the internal mammary artery is usually only used for revascularisation of the left anterior descending artery. Sequential internal mammary artery bypass is a technique which can be used for revascularizing the left anterior descending artery. Seven men aged 44 to 68 years (average 55 years) were operated between November 1983 and February 1985. These patients had clinically stable (4 cases) or instable (3 cases) angina. Two patients had previously undergone bilateral saphenous vein stripping and one patient a terminal anastomosis on the left anterior descending and a latero-lateral anastomosis on the diagonal artery. Three patients had an associated venous bypass graft and one patient also underwent aortic valve replacement. There were no cases of postoperative myocardial infarction. Five control angiographies were carried out during the first postoperative month. In 4 patients the internal mammary graft ant the latero-lateral and termino-lateral anastomoses were patent. In the other case, the latero-lateral anastomosis and the diagonal artery was occluded but the internal mammary graft and the termino-lateral anastomosis on the left anterior descending artery were patent. The average follow-up period is now 18 months: there have been no recurrences of chest pain or any ECG changes. These results show that internal mammary artery bypass grafting is a delicate procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Between 1976 and 1982 four hundred consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery and were operated by the same surgical team: 345 men (88.5%) and 46 women (11.5%). The average age was 56 years (7.5% were over 75 years of age); 86% of patients were infunctional classes III and IV; 46% had triple vessel disease and 9.25% had severe stenosis of the left main stem. Left ventricular ejection fractions were decreased in 26% and very poor in 4.5% of patients. The average number of bypass grafts was 1.72 per patient and the operative mortality was 3.5%. The 10 year survival rate was 81% and 75% of these patients still thought that their condition had been improved by surgery although only 30% were completely asymptomatic and had had no further coronary event. A comparison with a control population of the same age showed better survival in the surgical group in patients surviving operation. Contrary to traditional thinking, the surgical patients suffered relatively few deaths of cardiac causes but as many, if not more, of cancer. The operated patients died of approximately the same diseases as the control population of the same age but in lower proportions for each cause of death (17 cardiovascular deaths in the control population compared with 13 in the operated group; 18 versus 10 deaths of cancer, and 18 versus 8 deaths of other causes in the control and operated patients, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)