Search

In 130 patients, coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with fixed wire balloons through 5 French (F) diagnostic catheters was performed immediately following diagnostic coronary angiography. Patients with complex lesions or in whom the need for alternative devices was likely such as stents were excluded. A total of 151 lesions were attempted. Primary success with 5F systems was achieved in 92% of lesions. In 7 cases, the 5F system failed to cross the stenosis and a change to a larger guiding catheter was necessary. Of these 7 cases, 6 could be dilated successfully with 6 or 7F systems. In one patient in whom the fixed wire balloon was not able to cross a subtotal stenosis of an obtuse marginal branch through the 5F catheter, a Monorail system through a 6F guiding catheter failed as well. The overall technical success rate was 96%. Cardiac complications occurred in 2% of patients (3 patients with Q-wave myocardial infarction). Two other patients (1.5%) with suboptimal PTCA results underwent bypass surgery. PTCA through small diagnostic catheters is a valid alternative technique in selected patients. It is safe and leads to high success rates. Advantages of this technique include 1) less peripheral and coronary trauma; 2) enhanced patient comfort; 3) economical advantages.

This report describes two cases of successful fibrinolysis of thrombosed tricuspid and mitral valve prostheses (Carbomedics; Austin, Texas) with low-dose urokinase therapy corresponding to only one third of the dose usually recommended.

Coronary and carotid atherosclerosis are often coexistent in the same patient. Therefore, patients presenting with carotid stenosis should be screened for coronary heart disease and vice versa. Patients with significant asymptomatic or symptomatic carotid stenosis have an elevated perioperative risk of cerebral ischemic attacks during operations with extracorporeal circulation and of myocardial infarction during carotid endarterectomy. The operations should be performed simultaneously, with carotid endarterectomy being done before sternotomy. This yields mortality and morbidity rates comparable with those for isolated operations on extracorporeal circulation. Medical therapy for such patients consists of platelet inhibitors with adequate cardiac medication.

Understanding of the mechanisms of cardiovascular and hemodynamic adaptation during pregnancy helps to prevent or manage complications in cardiac patients during gestation. Manifestations of coronary heart disease are exceptional during pregnancy and delivery. The same is true of disorders of the pericardium. Peripartal cardiomyopathy is a myocardial disorder of undetermined cause occurring shortly before, during or after delivery, which may take a fatal course. Hypertrophic obstructive or non-obstructive cardiomyopathy is compatible with gestation and delivery without serious complications in most cases. Rheumatic mitral stenosis was the most common cardiac disorder until the 1950s. Nowadays it is rarely seen in this country. Surgical and other interventional therapies have greatly changed the outlook in pregnant women with valvular heart disease. A highly controversial issue is heart valve replacement in young women and management of anticoagulation during pregnancy. Like any other drug therapy, anticoagulation during gestation requires careful weighing of the benefit for the mother against toxic and teratogenic effects for the fetus. In women with heart disease the management of pregnancy should start, if possible, before conception. Thorough counseling and proper planning of pregnancy and of therapeutic measures is essential in order to avoid or manage complications.

We describe a case of Lyme carditis with intra-hisian 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block documented by electrophysiological study. To our knowledge, only two cases of AV block at the level of the His bundle has been described in the literature. Sinus rhythm was restored after 4 days of i.v. ceftriaxone.

The controlled progress of transplanted kidneys has already been useful. We have succeeded in finding a simple method to study the function of the renal parenchyma and the collecting system. This method was also applied to determine a flow volume relation during perfusion in comparison to impulse rates. In contrast the conventional parameters, which only describe a partial function of the organ, this simple method will deliver comprehensive information before transplantation.

Unlabelled: The end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, the left ventricular ejection fraction, and segmental contraction of the left ventricle (5 areas) were determined at rest in 31 patients using two methods: conventional cineventriculography (as reference) and digital subtraction angiography by venous injection (the inferior vena cava)., Results: the volumes and ejection fraction obtained by digital subtraction angiography were reliable, though slightly less accurate than conventional ventriculography. Quantification of segmental contraction was satisfactory in the apical, anterolateral, and anteroinferior portions. It was less satisfactory in the posteroinferior portion with questionable reliability in the diaphragmatic portion. Qualitative dynamic assessment of contraction was satisfactory in most patients.