[Uncommon dysphagia caused by ectasia of the left atrium in atrial septal defect].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Dacosta.
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A case of angina pectoris revealed by nicotine patch treatment is described in a patient who continued to smoke and subsequently suffered a myocardial infarction. The various side effects of nicotine and its derivatives are recalled. The action of nicotine on coronary vasomotricity and its mediators is discussed.
The authors report three cases of syncope due to systemic mastocytosis. This is a rare cause of syncope but should be recalled in certain circumstances. In the light of these cases, the authors review the literature with respect to this unusual presentation. Syncope may occur at any age. Loss of consciousness may be more or less complete, brief or prolonged, isolated or recurrent and usually accompanied by prodromal symptoms. The least controversial physiopathogenic mechanism of these syncopes is intense vasoplegia induced by the release of vasoactive mediators, especially histamine. When there is a clinical suspicion of mastocytosis, even in the absence of skin changes, the diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy which shows abnormally high numbers of mastocytes irrespective of the organ biopsied. The treatment of acute forms with collapse is based on intravenous infusion of macromolecular fluids and injections of epinephrine. Prevention is by drugs which inhibit the synthesis of histamine, the degranulation of mastocytes and the production of prostaglandin D2.
The authors report a rare case of myocardial infarction secondary to coronary thromboses caused by the antiphospholipid syndrome. The relations between the cardiac pathology, especially the coronary disease, and antiphospholipid antibodies are recalled. The importance and methods of monitoring the anticoagulant therapy are emphasised.
The authors report a new case of left bundle branch block with pain during exercise, with arteriographically normal coronary arteries. Clinical findings and the course of the condition are reviewed. Pathophysiological mechanisms are discussed, with attribution of first place to an ischemic theory.
The authors report a case of type 2 dissection, strictly confined to the terminal portion of the ascending aorta, not seen by transesophageal echocardiography because of the existence of a blind spot and responsible for a false negative. The role of TEE in the diagnostic approach to dissections is reviewed, as are its limitations, of which it is important to be aware because of the poor prognosis of pathology of this type.
Cerebrovascular accidents and brain abscesses are the most worrisome complications of cyanogenic cardiac lesions in infants and young children, but remain rare in the adult. The authors report the case of a brain abscess which led to the subsequent discovery of a congenital cardiac malformation consisting of a ventricular septal defect and moderate pulmonary valve stenosis. Complete correction of the cardiac lesions was carried out three months after neurosurgical treatment (needle biopsy/drainage).
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
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