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Biomedical subjects

K R Karsch

Publications and source records attributed to K R Karsch.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Perforation of a side branch of the right coronary artery during selective coronary angiography using 5 French Judkins catheters.

In this case report the first known case of a perforation of a side branch of the right coronary artery during diagnostic coronary angiography using 5 French Judkins catheters is described which occurred by selective intubation. Although catheter placement was controlled by contrast test injection the catheter occasionally intubated the conus artery super selectively just prior to the diagnostic injection. Thus, perforation of small side branches may be encountered especially by the use of 5 French Judkins catheters.

Cardiac Catheterization↗

Double-blind comparison of the acute effects of two relevant doses of oral nicorandil on central hemodynamics, left ventricular function, and myocardial contractility.

Nicorandil is a nicotinamide derivative with potent vasodilator properties. Oral and sublingual administration of this compound in patients with coronary artery disease resulted in a predominant reduction of afterload and a small decrease in left ventricular preload. The effects of nicorandil in different doses on contractile left ventricular (LV) function, however, are not well defined. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of nicorandil on hemodynamics, left ventricular volume and function, as well as the LV contractility index dP/dt measured by Millar-tip manometers. A total of 16 patients with coronary artery disease were included in this study. After diagnostic coronary angiography and ventriculography, the patients randomly received either 10 or 20 mg of oral nicorandil. The hemodynamic parameters, cardiac output, and LV end-diastolic and systolic pressures were determined after 15, 30, and 60 minutes, and a second angiogram was performed 60 minutes after administration. The predominant effect was a decrease in the mean aortic pressure with a concomitant decrease in the peripheral arterial resistance. Clinically relevant changes in aortic pressure, systemic vascular resistance, and rate-pressure product, however, were documented only after oral administration of 20 mg nicorandil, as opposed to minimal changes in the 10 mg group. LV volume and cardiac output were not changed significantly. LV contractility remained unchanged during the observation period. The hemodynamic profile of this compound is dose-dependent afterload reduction without a change in contractility. Because there was no concomitant increase in heart rate, calculated oxygen consumption was reduced, especially in the higher dose group.

Adult↗

Intracoronary ultrasound following excimer-laser angioplasty. An in-vitro study in human coronary arteries.

UNLABELLED: To study the ablation effects induced by excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA), we examined 41 segments of nine isolated coronary arteries. An electronic intracoronary ultrasound device (ICUS: 20 MHz, 3.5F, Endosonics) was positioned coaxially within the vessel. Angioplasty was performed using a 1.7 mm ELCA catheter (Spectranetics) which was placed in the lumen and directed vertically onto the intimal surface of the vessel (fluence: 10-50 mJ.mm-2). The laser catheter was removed after each lasing cycle to allow the stepwise evaluation of the morphological effects of ELCA and to avoid reaching the adventitia. Ultrasound images were compared with the corresponding histological specimens. In all cases, the ablation site could be correctly identified by ICUS. No penetration of the adventitia was seen at histology. Ablation depth was 0.31 +/- 0.18 mm as determined by histology and 0.34 +/- 0.18 mm as determined by ultrasound; the diameter of the crater was 0.63 +/- 0.21 mm, and 0.75 +/- 0.16 mm, respectively, and wall thickness was 0.68 +/- 0.18 mm, and 0.83 +/- 0.20 mm, respectively. A statistical relationship between ultrasonic and histology measurements was only found, however, for assessment of wall thickness (r = 0.71). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of small ablation effects by ICUS was possible with great accuracy and ELCA could be performed without penetration of the adventitial layers. However, exact quantification of the crater dimensions was not possible due to limitations of the axial and lateral resolution. Thus, for the guidance of ELCA by ICUS a further improvement in the resolution capabilities of ICUS devices is mandatory.

Angioplasty, Laser↗

Prolonged proliferative response of smooth muscle cells after experimental intravascular stenting.

The purpose of this experimental in vivo study was to determine the time course of smooth muscle cell proliferation early and late after intravascular stenting compared to conventional balloon angioplasty in normal vessels. A balloon expandable 2.0 mm tantalum Strecker stent was placed in the right carotid artery of 33 male New Zealand White rabbits after they had been fed a 0.5% cholesterol diet for 28 days. In addition, balloon angioplasty was performed in 27 of the animals; 19 contralateral vessels served as controls without treatment. The vessels were excised at 7, 14, 28, 42 or 90 days after treatment. During the final 18 h before the rabbits were killed, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was applied and proliferating cells were detected by using a monoclonal antibody against BrdU. In histological cross sections the proportion of cells undergoing DNA synthesis was determined. Analysis was performed separately in the intimal and medial layers. Additionally, the area adjacent to the stent wire was compared with the intermediate area. Smooth muscle cells were identified by alpha-actin staining. Intimal wall thickness increased from 23 +/- 28 microns (control group without intervention) to 323 +/- 84 microns within 42 days after stenting (P < 0.01), and to 81 +/- 82 microns at day 42 after balloon angioplasty (P < 0.05). However, between 42 and 90 days following stent implantation a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in neointimal thickness was observed (90 days: 215 +/- 15 microns).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

[Fatal outcome of a congenital aneurysm of the right sinus valsalvae ruptured into the right atrium].

In a 24-year-old female patient with sudden collapse an acute tricuspid insufficiency was presumed by echocardiography after the exclusion of pulmonary embolism. Aortography, however, revealed an aneurysm of the right sinus of Valsalva which had ruptured into the right atrium. Despite emergency surgery the patient died in protracted cardiac shock. Biopsy and autopsy showed pathognomonic findings of a congenital aneurysm (medial degeneration, reduction of elastic lamellae). Aneurysms of the sinuses of Valsalva are mainly caused by a rare connatal defect of the aortic wall; the right aortic sinus is involved most frequently, the sudden rupture uncovers the lesion. The characteristics of the reported case are compared with the literature under special consideration of etiology and pathologic anatomy of this unusual entity.

Aortic Aneurysm↗

Formation of pressure waves during in vitro excimer laser irradiation in whole blood and the effect of dilution with contrast media and saline.

Pressure waves during excimer laser ablation of vascular tissue may be responsible for complications of coronary excimer laser angioplasty. In this experimental study, pressure waves were measured during excimer laser irradiation in blood and contrast media using a polyvinilidenefluoride hydrophone. At a distance of 4 mm lateral to the tip of a 1.7 mm multifiber laser catheter, excimer laser irradiation in blood resulted in a linear increase of peak pressures from 1,365 +/- 165 kPa at 30 mJ/mm2 to 2,866 +/- 404 kPa at 60 mJ/mm2. In contrast media, peak pressure increased from 3,172 +/- 573 kPa (30 mJ/mm2) to 5,763 +/- 467 kPa (60 mJ/mm2). Contrast media and saline were added to blood. At a concentration of 60% contrast in blood, a 3.4 fold increase of peak pressures was documented as compared to pure blood. Further increase of the concentration did not result in higher pressure waves. Concentrations of saline in blood of 90% and 96% reduced the peak pressures by 16% and > 50%, respectively, as compared to pure blood.

Angioplasty, Laser↗

In vitro assessment of luminal dimensions of coronary arteries by intravascular ultrasound with and without application of echogenic contrast dye.

To evaluate the impact and limitations of intracoronary ultrasound in the assessment of lumen, we examined 80 segments of 20 isolated coronary arteries with a mechanical ultrasound device (CVIS) comparing the results of ultrasound with the corresponding histological specimens. Ultrasound was performed with and without echogenic contrast dye (Laevovist, Schering AG, FRG). After application of contrast dye, correlation of luminal area between histology and ultrasound was improved from r = 0.85 to r = 0.89 (p = ns). Accuracy of lumen measurements was low in segments < 2.5 mm; only after application of contrast dye a relationship between ultrasound and histological measurements was found. In all cases in which a deviation of more than 20% between ultrasound and histology was observed, this deviation could be reduced by the application of contrast dye. There are considerable limitations in the accuracy of ultrasound measurements in the near field. Thus, further improvement of intracoronary ultrasound devices is mandatory. However, with the use of the currently available systems, additional application of echogenic contrast dye can improve accuracy of luminal measurements, especially in smaller size vessels.

Adult↗

Effect of chronic nicotine delivery on the proliferation rate of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in experimentally induced vascular wall plaques.

To study the effect of nicotine, cholesterol feeding, and their combination on endothelial and smooth muscle cells in vascular wall plaques an experimental method was established which allows the immunohistochemical detection and quantification of the fractions of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in DNA synthesis under the effect of these stimuli. For this purpose standardized fibromuscular plaques were produced by electrostimulation in the common carotid arteries of rabbits. The animals received either nicotine via implanted osmotic minipumps or a cholesterol diet or both. Plaque size was determined at the end of the experiments after 7 or 14 days as well as the fraction of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in DNA synthesis during exposure to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). The BrdU labeling index of endothelial cells clearly increased under chronic nicotine administration for either 7 days or 14 days compared to controls. The combination of nicotine and cholesterol diet led to a more significant increase. In contrast, the BrdU labeling index of smooth muscle cells was not increased under nicotine delivery. The combination of nicotine and cholesterol, however, led to a significant increase of the BrdU labeling index of smooth muscle cells in the plaques compared to cholesterol feeding. Measurement of the plaque size revealed no difference between controls and nicotine-treated animals after 14 days of nicotine delivery, whereas the combination of cholesterol and nicotine produced increased plaque formation compared to a group of animals which received a cholesterol diet alone.

Analysis of Variance↗

Acute complications of excimer laser coronary angioplasty: a detailed analysis of multicenter results. Coinvestigators of the U.S. and European Percutaneous Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty (PELCA) Registries.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to document and analyze the incidence and consequences of complications of excimer laser coronary angioplasty. BACKGROUND: Excimer laser coronary angioplasty has been reported to be a safe and feasible alternative or adjunct to conventional balloon angioplasty, but serious and unique complications have been observed. METHODS: Data on 1,595 interventions of excimer laser coronary angioplasty in 1,521 patients were analyzed, using a merged data base from the U.S. and European Percutaneous Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty (PELCA) registries. RESULTS: Procedural success was achieved in 89.3% of interventions. Stand-alone laser angioplasty was performed in 17.8% of interventions. Complications included dissection (22.0%), vasospasm (6.1%), filling defects (4.8%), abrupt reclosure (6.1%), embolization (2.3%), perforation (2.4%), arrhythmia (0.7%) and aneurysm formation (0.3%). Major complications were non-Q wave myocardial infarction (2.3%), Q wave myocardial infarction (1.0%), coronary artery bypass grafting (3.1%) and death (0.7%). Logistic regression analysis revealed correlation between dissections and the use of larger catheter size (p = 0.0005), high energy per pulse levels (p = 0.0001 for native vessels), lesion length > 10 mm (p = 0.001) and presence of a side branch (p = 0.01). The incidence of perforations was higher in women (p = 0.004), in treatment of total occlusions (p = 0.02) and in the presence of a side branch (p = 0.03). Fatal complications were correlated with patients with multivessel disease (p < 0.0001), patients with acute myocardial infarction (p = 0.0009) and older patients (> 70 years old, p = 0.004). The incidence of major complications decreased after performance of 50 laser angioplasty procedures at one institution (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis defines both the learning curve and the profile of complications for excimer laser angioplasty and provides insight into the selection of appropriate patients and proper performance of the procedure.

Acute Disease↗

Clinical results of coronary excimer laser angioplasty: report from the European Coronary Excimer Laser Angioplasty Registry.

From January 1991 to January 1993 the clinical and angiographic data of 470 patients were included in the European Coronary Excimer Laser Angioplasty Registry. Symptoms were CCS class 3 in 23% and CCS class 4 in 14.7%; unstable angina was present in 14.7% and 6.6% of patients had acute myocardial infarction. Of 477 treated lesions, 60% were type B2, and 19% type C. The lesion was located in the LAD in 61%, in the LCX in 16%, in the RCA in 20%, in a protected left main stem in 1.3% and in a saphenous vein graft in 2.5%, respectively. Failure of laser angioplasty occurred in 56 (12%) interventions. By multivariate analysis failure was associated with the intention to treat long segmental lesions (risk ratio (RR) 3.6, confidence interval (CI) 2.9 to 4.4; P = 0.0005), segments with severe prestenotic tortuosity (RR 3.5, CI 2.4 to 4.6; P = 0.02) and total occlusions (RR 2.1; CI 1.4 to 2.8; P = 0.05). Complications included vasospasm (13.4%), dissection (14.7%), flow limiting dissection (4%), reclosure (7.8%), and perforation (1.9%). Myocardial infarction occurred in 2.1%, CABG was requested in 1.9%, and the mortality was 1.5%. Procedural success was achieved in 89%. Individual morphological criteria for a reduced procedural success were the presence of a thrombus (RR 6.4; CI 5.0 to 7.7; P = 0.007) and vessel calcification (RR 2.6; CI 1.9 to 3.2; P = 0.005). Procedural success was slightly lower in type C lesions (86%) than in type B2 (88%) type B1 (95%), and type A lesions (92%), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Accumulation of macrophages in the arterial vessel wall following experimental balloon angioplasty.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation is a key event in the development of restenosis after balloon angioplasty, and it is thought that macrophages play an important role in the complex process of activation of SMCs after vascular injury induced by balloon angioplasty. The study was designed to determine the time course of the accumulation of macrophages in the intimal layer following experimental balloon angioplasty. To determine the extent and time course of the accumulation of macrophages after experimental balloon angioplasty, an intimal atheroma was produced by repeated weak electrical stimulation of the right carotid artery of 45 male New Zealand White rabbits. Additionally, the animals received an 0.5% cholesterol diet during the 28 days of plaque development. Transluminal balloon angioplasty was subsequently performed. At 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 days after balloon treatment the vessels from at least five animals from each group were excised and analysed for the presence of macrophages using immunocytochemical techniques. In one group of five animals plaque development occurred without subsequent balloon angioplasty; the animals were killed after 21 days (sham group). SMCs were identified by immunohistological staining of alpha-actin. Intimal thickening increased after dilatation from 137 +/- 62 microns (control group without balloon treatment) to 244 +/- 47 microns in the 42 days after angioplasty (P < 0.05). The percentage of macrophages in the intimal layer displayed a significant increase (P < 0.01) at 14 days after angioplasty (9.1 +/- 4.3% vs 2.0 +/- 1.7% in the control group).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Early luminal deterioration following successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Frequency, prediction and clinical implications.

In order to develop a predictive model for the risk of early lesion deterioration following successful coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) based on clinical, pre-angioplasty and procedural characteristics, 154 lesions in 146 consecutive patients undergoing successful PTCA for stable/unstable angina were examined by quantitative coronary analysis immediately after and within 24 h of angioplasty. An angiographic complication score was used prospectively, classifying the lesion morphology post-PTCA into class 0: no complication and classes 1 to 3, according to purely descriptive morphological characteristics. Significant deterioration, defined as a decrease in minimal luminal diameter of more than 2 standard deviations of duplicate measurements post-intervention (0.54 mm; 95% confidence limit for variability using quantitative angiography) was found in 28 lesions (18%), and a total reocclusion in seven lesions (5%). The angiographic complication score (P = 0.019), prior to myocardial infarction (P = 0.076), minimal luminal diameter immediately post-intervention (P = 0.021) and gain of PTCA (P = 0.042) were found to be independently predictive of early lesion deterioration by multiple logistic regression analysis. Identification of these factors and their associated risk should improve success, and understanding of the early vascular response following coronary angioplasty. Moreover, these results have implications for clinical restenosis studies, particularly those assessing the effect of pharmacological interventions on late restenosis rates.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function early after successful PTCA in 1-vessel coronary artery disease.

Myocardial perfusion (201TI-ECT) and contractile function (99mTc-ventriculography) were studied during exercise and rest 3 to 6 days after PTCA in 20 patients (11 with stable and 9 with unstable angina pectoris). All patients had single vessel disease and no previous myocardial infarction. During exercise after PTCA the ejection fraction increased for 3 to 5% and no regional wall motion abnormalities, ST-segment depression or perfusion defects occurred (with exception in one patient with very early restenosis). Therefore, perfusion and wall motion were completely normalized at rest and during exercise within days after technically successful PTCA even in patients with previously unstable angina pectoris. Pathological stress test results after this time should thus be attributed to other causes e.g. early restenosis, multivessel disease, false positive tests) and are not due to the specific situation early after PTCA.

Adult↗

Reliability of quantitative coronary angiography of the target lesion immediately and 1 day after coronary balloon and excimer laser angioplasty.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective trial was performed to evaluate the impact of the morphologic complications of angioplasty on the reliability and results of quantitative angiographic assessment of the residual stenosis. BACKGROUND: Postintervention quantitative coronary analysis is limited by a variety of such complications. METHODS: In 199 patients undergoing an early control angiographic study within 24 h after coronary balloon or excimer laser angioplasty (24-h study), detailed quantitative angiographic measurements were performed on the target lesion immediately after intervention and at the 24-h study. Reproducibility of quantitative arteriography was determined by repeat measurements on the same angiogram. RESULTS: Intraobserver/interobserver variability was significantly higher (p < 0.0001/p < 0.03) for the postintervention angiogram than for the 24-h angiogram. Patients were classified into three subgroups with respect to the occurrence of angiographic complications or chest pain after intervention. In patients with angiographic complications after balloon angioplasty alone/stand-alone laser angioplasty/laser angioplasty with adjunctive balloon dilation, a significant difference in mean minimal lumen diameter (p = 0.0001/p = 0.03/p = 0.035) was observed between the immediate postintervention and 24-h angiogram. In patients without angiographic complications or patients with recurrent chest pain undergoing balloon angioplasty, stand-alone or adjunctive laser angioplasty, mean minimal lumen diameter remained nearly unchanged (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Angiographic measurements of the target lesion immediately after angioplasty were significantly less reliable than measurements obtained at 24 h after angioplasty in patients with angiographic complications. The occurrence of postintervention vascular complications was associated with significant early lesion changes between the immediate postangioplasty and the 24-h angiogram.

Adult↗

Comparison of two mechanical ultrasound devices with and without echogenic contrast dye.

To evaluate the impact and limitations of intracoronary ultrasound, 64 segments of 13 isolated coronary arteries were examined and 2 mechanical devices (device A, 30 MHz 5Fr [CVIS] and device B, 20 MHz 4.8Fr [Diasonics/Boston Scientific] were compared with the corresponding histologic specimens. Luminal dimensions were assessed with and without echogenic contrast dye (Laevovist, Schering AG, Germany). After application of contrast dye, correlation of luminal area between histology and ultrasound was improved from r = 0.62 to r = 0.77 (device B; p < 0.05) and from r = 0.82 to r = 0.88 (device A; p = NS). Low accuracy of lumen measurements in segments < 2.5 mm could be improved by application of contrast dye. The number of quadrants in which wall thickness measurements were impossible was significantly higher for device B (n = 56; 22%) than for device A (n = 28; 11%); p < 0.01. This may be due to the different ringdown diameters of both systems (B, 2.6 mm; A, 2.0 mm; p < 0.0001). In assessing wall thickness only in segments of > 2.5 mm, a reliable correlation between ultrasound and histology was found (A, r = 0.80; B, r = 0.60). Sensitivity of plaque (n = 51) detection was lower for device B (63%) than for device A (82%, p < 0.05), and measurements correlated with histology only for device A. There are considerable differences in the accuracy of ultrasound measurements between mechanical systems. Nevertheless, additional application of contrast dye can improve accuracy of luminal measurements, especially in smaller vessels.

Aged↗

Occurrence, extent, and implications of pressure waves during excimer laser ablation of normal arterial wall and atherosclerotic plaque.

Ablation of atherosclerotic plaque and normal arterial wall was performed using a Xenon-Chloride Excimer laser with a wave-length of 308 nm and a pulse duration of 115 ns. The light was transmitted via a 600 microns bare fibre and adjusted to an energy density of 3.5J/cm2. The acoustic signals generated by the laser pulse were measured with two types of hydrophones consisting of polyvinylidenefluoride with active diameters of 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm and recorded on a dual channel digital storage oscilloscope using either a 0.5 m coaxial cable or a broadband fibre-optic transmission system. Tissue was retrieved from nine cadaver human aortas and macroscopically classified as either normal or calcified atherosclerotic plaque. Histological analysis (Haematoxylin eosin, elastica van Gieson, and immunohistochemical staining) was carried out after the experiments to verify the macroscopic diagnosis and to correlate the acoustic responses with the tissue characteristics. For normal arterial wall, maximum peak pressure was 1.28 MPa +/- 0.85 MPa, rise time 163 ns +/- 43 ns, and pressure increase 8.2k Pa +/- 5.4k Pa/ns. For calcified, atheromatous segments, a maximum peak pressure of 2.02 MPa +/- 1.16 MPa, a rise time of 69.9 ns +/- 25.8 ns, and a pressure increase of 32.3 kPa +/- 21.3 kPa/ns was found. Statistical analysis showed a significant shorter rise time (P < 0.0001) and a higher pressure increase (P < 0.0001) for calcified tissue in comparison to normal arterial wall, whereas maximum pressures alone did not allow a differentiation of tissue characteristics. Several hundred kPa are generated during Excimer laser ablation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acoustics↗

In vitro evaluation of ablation parameters of normal and fibrous aorta using smooth excimer laser coronary angioplasty.

A modified excimer laser energy delivery system was used to irradiate 100 segments of normal and fibrous aorta in vitro. The laser beam was scanned into 8 fiber bundles consisting of 50 fibers each resulting in a reduction of the applied pulse energy. The total repetition rate was increased to 150 Hz in order to keep the repetition rate per fiber bundle close to 20 Hz and to minimize thermal injury. The results demonstrate that effective ablation (etch rate per 8 pulses > 2.0 microns) occurred at an energy fluency of 50 mJ/mm2 in both normal and fibrous aorta. Tissue damage (carbonization, tissue separation, fissures, cracks, and vacuolization) was in a range of 100 +/- 28 to 152 +/- 30 microns for normal aorta and in a range of 57 +/- 35 to 110 +/- 39 microns for fibrous aorta. We conclude that effective ablation of normal and fibrous human aorta can be achieved by the application of smooth excimer laser coronary angioplasty. This improvement of excimer laser technology may result in a reduction of shock wave- and cavitation-induced damage leading to a reduction of tissue injury. However, this awaits further in vitro and in vivo confirmation.

Angioplasty, Laser↗

Acute vessel closure following excimer laser coronary angioplasty: can we predict it?

Of 124 consecutive patients undergoing elective excimer laser coronary angioplasty, 33 (26%) had periprocedural occlusion following excimer laser irradiation. Successful management (reopened vessel, no death, no myocardial infarction, no emergency bypass surgery) including repeat lasing, subsequent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, use of intracoronary nitroglycerin or streptokinase was achieved in 32 of the patients with acute occlusion following excimer laser coronary angioplasty. In one patient a nonfatal anterior myocardial infarction occurred. A late event occurred in two patients despite patency at the control angiography 24 h later. Multiple logistic regression modeling was used to examine the relationship between various characteristics and the risk of acute vessel closure. The preprocedural and procedural variables analyzed included progressive spasm prior to occlusion and lesion morphology after intervention (angiographic complications after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were prospectively divided into class 0, no complication, and classes 1-3, according to purely descriptive morphological characteristics). These showed a multivariate correlation with acute occlusion during excimer laser coronary angioplasty. These results suggest that acute vessel closure during stand-alone excimer laser coronary angioplasty is a benign but unpredictable event.

Acute Disease↗