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Nicardipine i.v. bolus (5 mg/5 min) was administered in the pulmonary artery trunk in 13 patients (2 f, 11 m), mean age 48 +/- 8 yrs, affected by ischemia congestive heart failure, with pulmonary hypertension (pulmonary vascular resistances greater than 6 U.W. and/or systolic pulmonary artery blood pressure greater than or equal to 60 mmHg). The vasodilatation induced by nicardipine caused a rapid improvement of all hemodynamic parameters, with a significant reduction of systemic and pulmonary pressures and resistances; in addition, cardiac output increased significantly. Even if heart rate decreased and mean right atrial pressure fell, their variation did not reach statistical significance. These beneficial effects are attributable to the vasodilator action of nicardipine on the systemic and pulmonary vascular districts. Therefore, in the hemodynamic evaluation of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy proposed for heart transplantation, we propose the employment of nicardipine in testing the vascular reactivity in cases with secondary pulmonary hypertension.

A 27 years old man was admitted in our Institute for exertion dyspnea, palpitation and a single syncopal attack; five months before admission he was subjected to thoracotomy for pericardial and myocardial haemostatic suture because of a slash. Clinical, phonocardiographic and echocardiographic data suggested diagnosis of combined aortic stenosis and aortic regurgitation. An anterior myocardial necrosis was in ECG and VCG, Cardiac catheterization confirmed previous report. Coronary arteriography showed total occlusion of left anterior descending artery soon after the second diagonal branch. Right coronary was undamaged. Furthermore left ventricular angiocardiography showed a changed ventricular function. The Authors point out the iatrogenic cause of the coronary occlusion; it was due to the inclusion of left anterior descending artery in the surgical myocardial and pericardial haemostatic suture and/or post-traumatic fibrosis. It is necessary to watch over the patient as the changed ventricular function can develop in an aneurismatic area.

A case of a 41 years-old-man, who had undergone surgical intervention ten years previously for aortic valve replacement in ECC with the coronary perfusion technique, is reported. This patient was studied because of the appearance of angina pectoris three months after the intervention and its progressive development. Selective left coronary angiography showed an ostial subocclusive stenosis; the run-off from the right coronary artery provided distal blood supply to the left coronary artery. A venous bypass was implanted between the aorta and the left anterior descending branch; the prosthesis was substituted because it was altered and caused hemolysis' problems. In accordance with most Authors late ostial coronary stenosis is a complication of the coronary perfusion technique, which is adopted for myocardial protection during surgical interventions for aortic valve replacement.