Search

Ischemic stroke is a rare and serious complication of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention, which has high morbidity and mortality. To our knowledge, there is no large-scale randomized controlled trial for the management of catheter-related ischemic stroke. In this case study, we presented a 46-year-old male with peri-procedural ischemic stroke during the coronary angiography (CAG). The CAG was terminated after the stroke and the left carotid artery was selectively cannulated, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed total occlusion (Modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction, mTICI, 0) of the M1 part of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA). A stent-assisted thrombectomy was performed and the DSA revealed restoration of flow to the left MCA with mTICI 3 flow in the distal branches. The next day, the neurological exam showed no sensory, motor deficits. The patient was discharged four days later. In the setting of catheter-related stroke, mechanical thrombectomy seems to be the least time-consuming and effective approach.

INTRODUCTION[|]This study aimed to determine the relationship between the diameter of coronary artery stents and age, gender, diabetes mellitus (DM), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), renal dysfunction, and the clinical presentation of myocardial ischemia in the cohort of patients with implanted stents in coronary arteries with severe stenotic lesions.[¤]METHODS[|]This study included 2256 patients (mean age, 59.3+-10.9 years; men, 62%) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The clinical status of the patients at presentation was subcategorized as follows: ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, and stable angina pectoris. The diameters, without any type or brand differentiation, were divided into two groups as follows: Group I, which included 2.5- and 2.75-mm-diameter stents, and Group II, which included ≥3-mm-diameter stents.[¤]RESULTS[|]The type of procedure, including primary PCI, early invasive strategy, and elective stenting, was not found to be a significant factor affecting the diameter of coronary artery stents. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a relationship between the diameter of coronary artery stents and age, gender, DM, and LVEF.[¤]DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION[|]This study demonstrated that the diameter of coronary artery stents was independently associated with gender, age, a history of DM, and moderate-to-severe systolic left ventricular dysfunction.[¤]

INTRODUCTION[|]Red cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been found to be associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiovascular diseases. However, correlation of these parameters with presence of left atrial (LA) thrombus and/or spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in patients with non-valvular AF has not been clarified. This study was an investigation of correlation of RDW, NLR, and clinical risk factors with LA thrombus and dense SEC in patients with non-valvular AF in the Turkish population.[¤]METHODS[|]The demographic, laboratory, and echocardiographic properties of 619 non-valvular AF patients who underwent transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination before direct current cardioversion (DCCV) or AF ablation treatment were retrospectively investigated. Complete blood count (CBC) and biochemical parameters were studied 6 to 12 hours before TEE examination. Left atrial stasis (LAS) markers were noted as presence of left atrial/left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) thrombus or dense spontaneous echo contrast (DSEC).[¤]RESULTS[|]Total of 325 (52%) patients with LAS were compared with 294 patients (48%) without LAS. In the LAS group, there were 274 (84%) patients with LA/LAA thrombus and 51 (16%) patients with DSEC. LAS (+) group, values for RDW (14.85+-1.48 vs. 13.77+-1.30; p6 months, and international normalized ratio

Over the past decade, percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed via radial artery (RA) access have become popular among interventional cardiologists. Since the radial approach may limit the options in complex cases, most interventional cardiologists prefer femoral access to RA access for complex procedures, such as chronic total occlusions (CTOs) and bifurcation lesions. Presently described is a case of CTO of the right coronary artery that was successfully treated with PCI via the left RA. This study demonstrates that if there is an indication for revascularization and the CTO lesions are short and without poor prognostic factors, an intervention for CTO should still be considered, even if there is no femoral access.

Objective: Therapeutic hypothermia improves neurologic prognosis after cardiac arrest. The aim of this study was to report clinical experience with intravascular method of cooling in patients with cardiac arrest resulting from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: Thirteen patients (11 male, 2 famele; mean age was 39.6+-9.4 years) who had undergone mild therapeutic hypothermia (MTH) by intravascular cooling after cardiac arrest due to STEMI were included. Clinical, demographic, and procedural data were analyzed. Neurologic outcome was assessed by Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) score. Results: Anterior STEMI was observed in 9 patients. One patient died of cardiogenic shock complicating STEMI. Mean cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) duration and door-toinvasive cooling were 32.9+-20.1 and 286.1+-182.3 minutes, respectively. Precooling Glasgow Coma Scale score was 3 in 9 subjects. Twelve patients were discharged, 11 with CPC scores of 1 at 1-year follow-up. No major complication related to procedure was observed. Conclusion: In comatose survivors of STEMI, therapeutic hypothermia by intravascular method is a feasible and safe treatment modality.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem vasculitis that may involve vessels of all sizes. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to secondary involvement of BD is rare and its management less clear. In this case, a 29-year-old man admitted to the emergency room with ongoing chest pain was interned to the coronary care unit with a diagnosis of ACS. The patient had been diagnosed 1 year before with BD and had been without regular follow-up, despite the suggested use of cholchium. An immediate coronary angiography revealed a fresh thrombus image in the proximal segment of the right coronary artery (RCA), an aneurysm of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) at proximal segment, and a hemodynamically significant lesion following the aneurysm. Intervention was ended because of normal flow (TIMI III) of distal RCA. An intravenous infusion of glycoprotein IIb/ IIIa receptor inhibitor (tirofiban) was administered, and a control angiography showed dissolution of a thrombus in RCA, but enlarged aneurysm of LAD and a new aneurysm in RCA.

Nerium oleander is a popular ornamental plant grown in many tropical and subtropical countries and in the Mediterranean region. It is dangerous because it has been shown to contain several types of cardiac glycosides, and hence can cause cardiac arrhythmias resembling digoxin in their toxicologic manifestations. We report a patient presenting to our hospital with Mobitz type II atrioventricular block after drinking herbal tea prepared from oleander leaves. Three hours after admission, a 200-mg empiric dose of digoxin-specific Fab antibody fragments was administered intravenously over 30 minutes. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed sinus rhythm at the end of infusion. After 72 hours, the patient was discharged without any symptoms.

The management of valvular heart diseases with mechanical valves has been performed for several years. Warfarin has been used in patients with mechanical heart valves to protect against thromboembolic complications; nevertheless, in these patients, thromboembolic event rates range from 0.5% to 1.7%. Acute occlusive embolism to the coronary arteries due to a mechanical valve is an uncommon occurrence. In this report, we present a case of a left coronary system occlusion due to thrombus embolization from a prosthetic aortic valve, which was successfully treated by thrombolytic therapy.