ST-alternans alternans.
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Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
Biomedical subjects
E de Marchena
Publications and source records attributed to E de Marchena.
Usefulness of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator in improving survival of patients with severely depressed left ventricular function associated with coronary artery disease.
Clinical outcome was analyzed among a group of 39 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease, left ventricular (LV) ejection fractions less than 30% and arrhythmias that required an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) in an attempt to better define the role of the device in patients with severely depressed LV function. Twenty-nine (74%) were survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and 10 (26%) had ventricular tachycardia that was refractory to electrophysiologically guided antiarrhythmic therapy. The study group had the following demographic characteristics: 90% were men, mean age was 64 years (range 41 to 79) and mean LV ejection fraction was 21 +/- 4%. Concomitant pharmacotherapy included antiarrhythmic drugs 31 (79%), vasodilators in 22 (56%) and digoxin in 20 (51%). There was no statistical difference in baseline characteristics between survivors and nonsurvivors. Patients were followed for a mean of 24 months (range 2 to 72) from implantation. The difference between actuarial survival--77% at 1 year and 72% at 2 years--and projected survival without the AICD (patients who survive without appropriate device discharge)--30% at 1 year and 21% at 2 years--was significant (p less than 0.01 and less than 0.05 at 1 and 2 years, respectively). This study suggests that the AICD improves survival in patients with coronary artery disease despite severely depressed LV function.
Adult↗
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of anomalous right coronary artery.
Coronary angioplasty of tortuous anomalous coronary arteries can be technically challenging. We describe a successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of an anomalous right coronary artery after a failed previous attempt. The anatomic limitations of anomalous right coronary arteries and technical considerations for PTCA are discussed.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
Clinical, radiographic, and hemodynamic correlations in chronic congestive heart failure: conflicting results may lead to inappropriate care.
PURPOSE: Clinical and radiographic examinations are commonly used for estimating severity and titrating therapy of chronic congestive heart failure. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between findings on history, physical examination, chest roentgenogram, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two consecutive patients with chronic congestive heart failure, referred for evaluation for heart transplantation, were studied; all patients underwent history, physical examination, upright chest roentgenogram, and cardiac catheterization. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.19 +/- 0.06. Patients were divided into three groups according to their PCWP: Group 1, normal PCWP (less than or equal to 15 mm Hg, n = 19); Group 2, mild to moderately elevated PCWP (16 to 29 mm Hg, n = 15); Group 3, markedly elevated PCWP (greater than or equal to 30 mm Hg, n = 18). RESULTS: Physical and radiographic signs of congestion were more common in the groups with higher PCWP, but they could not be used to reliably separate patients with different filling pressures. Physical findings (orthopnea, edema, rales, third heart sound, elevated jugular venous pressure) or radiographic signs (cardiomegaly, vascular redistribution, and interstitial and alveolar edema) had poor predictive value for identifying patients with PCWP values greater than or equal to 30 mm Hg. These findings had poor negative predictive value to exclude significantly elevated PCWP (greater than 20 mm Hg). Radiographic pulmonary congestion was absent in eight (53%) patients in Group 2 and seven (39%) in Group 3. In patients in Group 2 and 3, those without radiographic congestion were in a better New York Heart Association functional class (3.5 +/- 0.5 versus 2.8 +/- 0.6, p less than 0.01). There was good correlation between right atrial pressure and PCWP (r = 0.64, p less than 0.001). A normal right atrial pressure had no predictive value, but a pressure greater than 10 mm Hg was seen in all but one patient with a PCWP value greater than 20 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: Clinical, radiographic, and hemodynamic evaluations of chronic congestive heart failure yield conflicting results. Absence of radiographic or physical signs of congestion does not ensure normal PCWP values and may lead to inaccurate diagnosis and inadequate therapy. It is not known whether therapy aimed at normalizing PCWP is superior to relieving clinical and radiographic signs of congestion.
Adult↗
Right ventricular diastolic function in systemic hypertension.
Right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) diastolic function was evaluated in 50 patients with mild, uncomplicated essential hypertension using pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography. Patients with pulmonary, valvular or coronary artery disease were excluded and antihypertensive drugs were discontinued for the 2 weeks preceding the study. Ten normotensive patients without heart disease acted as control subjects. In the hypertensive patients, RV peak velocity of atrial filling was higher (42 +/- 10 vs 31 +/- 7 cm/s, p less than 0.01) and deceleration half-time was prolonged (96 +/- 20 vs 83 +/- 10 ms, difference not significant); ratio of early/atrial filling velocity (1.1 +/- 0.3 vs 1.7 +/- 0.4, p less than 0.001) and peak filling rate corrected to stroke volume (3.6 +/- 0.7 vs 5.3 +/- 0.9 SV/s, p less than 0.001) were lower. LV filling parameters showed similar changes. RV filling parameters did not correlate with age, LV mass or septal thickness but correlated weakly with LV radius/thickness ratio. There was good correlation between RV and the following corresponding LV filling parameters: peak filling rate, r = 0.68, p less than 0.001; ratio of early/atrial filling, r = 0.88, p less than 0.0001; and deceleration half-time, r = 0.62, p less than 0.001. Data indicate that RV diastolic function is abnormal in essential hypertension and these abnormalities are closely related to those of LV diastolic function.
Adult↗
Atrialization of right ventricular pressure during acute cardiac allograft rejection.
We describe a patient who, during an episode of acute cardiac rejection, developed such severe systolic dysfunction that there was transient near-adynamic function of the right ventricle. This right ventricular dysfunction was reflected hemodynamically by the unusual finding of atrialization of right ventricular pressures. The patient's cardiac function returned to normal after treatment with extensive immunotherapy.
Acute Disease↗
Iatrogenic aorto-sinus of valsalva fistula: angiographic and cine computerized tomography delineation.
A patient is reported who underwent cardiac catheterization 4 years following coronary artery bypass grafting. Cardiac catheterization revealed the presence of a fistulous tract in the wall of the ascending aorta, originating at the site of aortic anastomosis of a saphenous vein bypass graft and ending in the superior aspect of the right sinus of Valsalva. This complication was felt to have resulted from a inadvertent localized dissection of the aorta during bypass surgery. The fistula was also imaged by ultrafast cine computerized tomography which proved a useful non-invasive method for follow-up examination.
Aortic Diseases↗
Myocarditis simulating acute transmural myocardial infarction.
A patient with cardiogenic shock had typical electrocardiographic findings of acute anterior transmural myocardial infarction. Cardiac catheterization revealed normal coronary arteries and severe biventricular failure. Postmortem examination confirmed normal coronary arteries; acute myocarditis, but no evidence for infarction, was found. Electrocardiographic changes of myocarditis may be indistinguishable from acute transmural infarction. In suspected cases, cardiac catheterization should be considered prior to thrombolytic therapy.
Acute Disease↗
Iatrogenic internal mammary artery to coronary vein fistula.
Iatrogenic aortocoronary vein fistula following coronary artery bypass surgery is a rare complication. We describe the first reported case of inadvertent anastomosis of the left internal mammary artery to cardiac vein. The clinical characteristics and consequences as well as the angiographic characteristics of this fistula are described. Precautions that may be taken to prevent this complication are also addressed.
Aged↗
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty using a combined "balloon-on-a-wire" system and exchange guidewire technique.
New balloon-on-a-wire dilation systems allow crossing of severely stenosed coronary arteries owing to their ultra-low profile. However, these systems do not allow for over-the-wire exchange to a larger balloon catheter or insertion of perfusion catheters, should the vessel close abruptly during dilation. Therefore, if the need for such catheters arises, the vessel must be left unprotected during attempts to recross the lesion. We describe a new technique using a combined balloon-on-a-wire system and an exchangeable guidewire, which permits the crossing and dilation of severely stenosed coronary arteries, while at the same time offering vessel protection and balloon catheter exchange.
Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
Ventricular arrhythmias in congestive heart failure.
Despite advances in the treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF), the mortality rate continues to be high. A large number of the deaths are sudden, presumably due to ventricular arrhythmias. Complex ventricular arrhythmias are recorded in as many as 80% of patients with CHF, with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia occurring in 40%. The latter appears to be an independent predictor of mortality. Chronic structural abnormalities responsible for CHF may be the basis for the capability of a ventricle to support life-threatening arrhythmias, which are triggered by premature ventricular contractions. The pathogenesis of arrhythmias is multifactorial. Electrolyte abnormalities, ischemia, catecholamines, inotropic and antiarrhythmic drugs may worsen arrhythmias and increase susceptibility of a ventricle to sustained arrhythmias. Beta-adrenergic blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have a beneficial effect. The role of various drugs in the pathogenesis and treatment of ventricular arrhythmias is discussed. The efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy targeted to asymptomatic nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, in order to prevent sudden death, is controversial. Pharmacotherapy guided by electrophysiologic testing is the treatment of choice for patients who have manifest sustained ventricular tachycardia, but patients resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation may require automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
Pseudo-complete AV block following orthotopic cardiac transplantation.
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Adult↗
Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in penetrating cardiac trauma.
A case is presented in which the intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was used to successfully manage cardiogenic shock in a patient with a cardiac stab wound, not involving a coronary artery.
Counterpulsation↗
Pulmonary artery torsion: a potentially lethal complication after orthotopic heart transplantation.
We report a case of a young man with acute right ventricular failure immediately after an orthotopic heart transplantation. The clinical presentation suggested acute reactive pulmonary hypertension. Hemodynamic and angiographic data proved it to be an inadvertent pulmonary artery torsion. The clinical hemodynamic and angiographic characteristics of this potentially lethal complication are discussed.
Adult↗