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We studied a patient with an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery by using conventional angiographic and myocardial imaging techniques. Myocardial imaging with radioactive 201thallium confirmed the significance of resting Q waves, and the defect in anterior perfusion coupled with the presence of thallium in the pulmonary outflow tract during exercise underscored the dynamic nature of the ischemic response to exercise in this syndrome.

The coronary arteriographic anatomic findings in 491 male patients clinically symptomatic for less than six months are described. Single and multiple vessel disease was noted, respectively, in 40 and 60 percent with 6.5 percent also manifesting left main coronary disease. Our findings indicate that severe coronary artery disease is present early in the symptomatic phase and that patients presenting with initial inferior myocardial infarctions may represent a select group having an excessive frequency of severe coronary disease suitable for early angiographic detection and surgical bypass therapy.

A new catheter for percutaneous transfemoral right heart catheterization is described. The catheter can also be used for pulmonary angiography and pulmonary wedgepressure recording. Because of the speed and efficiency with which this catheter may be used, we suggested a trial by physicians involved in right heart catheterization pulmonary angiography.