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Persistent high fever and systemic inflammation induced by percutaneous coronary intervention-related periaortitis
Kakino, Takamori; Nakayama, Tomohiro; Yamamoto, Hideo
After coronary catheterization, fever sometimes occurs, usually transiently. We report a very rare case that suggests persistent high fever and systemic inflammation might be caused by periaortitis induced by coronary catheterization including percutaneous coronary intervention. PMID:20057898
The morbidity and utility of periaortic radiotherapy in cervical carcinoma
Potish, R.; Adcock, L.; Jones, T. Jr.; Levitt, S.; Prem, K.; Savage, J.; Twiggs, L.
From 1971 through 1981, 81 women received 4350 to 5075 rad to the periaortic lymph nodes as part of their primary management for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. While two patients developed chronic small bowel damage, only one required surgical intervention. Five-year disease-free survival was 40%. Approximately one-third of the first recurrences were within the pelvic and periaortic radiation portals, with the remainder in the lungs, liver, bones, abdomen, and supraclavicular lymph nodes. Radiation dose and volume guidelines are presented in order to minimize enteric morbidity.
Periaortic haemangiosarcoma in an African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).
Newell-Fugate, A; Lane, E
A 9-year-old apparently healthy male African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) was found dead in its enclosure at the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre. Necropsy revealed a pericardium distended by approximately 250 ml of thick blood. A soft, red, lobulated mass was attached to the periaortic fat between the level of the aortic valves and the pericardial reflection. Histologically, the mass was consistent with a haemangiosarcoma. Other findings in the heart included mild to moderate ventricular hypertrophy and moderate, acute perivascular myocardial necrosis. Sudden death was attributed to acute heart failure precipitated by cardiac tamponade.
De novo periaortic fibrosis after endovascular aortic repair.
Alomran, Faris; de Blic, Romain; Mallios, Alexandros; Costanzo, Alessandro; Boura, Benoit; Combes, Myriam
We report a case of a 63-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain and hydronephrosis secondary to periaortic fibrosis (PAF) 8 months after an endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) using a woven polyester bifurcated graft. De novo delayed PAF after open repair is rare and even more infrequent after EVAR. All 3 previously reported cases occurred after woven polyester grafts and no reported cases after polytetrafluorethylene grafts. Management included steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment and bilateral double J tube placement. Satisfactory results were obtained. PMID:24275428
Retroperitoneal fibrosis with periaortitis: A case report of an unusual form of presentation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
González Revilla, Elizabeth Manuely; Fernandez, Araceli Abad; Ramirez, María Teresa Río; Pardo, Sara Calero; Moragues, María Antonia Juretschke
Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is the name that has been used in recent years for Wegener's granulomatosis. This condition is a systemic inflammatory disease characterised by necrotizing vasculitis that affects small and medium-sized blood vessels (capillaries, arterioles, venules and arteries). The granulomatous inflammation affects the respiratory system; it also commonly affects the kidney and can very rarely affect large vessels such as the aorta and the surrounding retroperitoneal tissue. Early diagnosis and treatment is of vital importance because of the high risk of dissection and of obstruction of retroperitoneal structures. We present the case of a 74-year-old man with a past history of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm. He consulted for abdominal pain. Cavitating pulmonary nodules and retroperitoneal fibrosis with periaortic alterations were detected on computed tomography. Laboratory investigations revealed that the patient was positive for cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA) and necrotizing granulomas were observed on biopsies of the lung lesions and retroperitoneal tissue. The patient was diagnosed with GPA and treatment was started with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents, which led to a significant clinical and radiological improvement over the following months. PMID:27672552
Periaortic Fat Tissue: A Predictor of Cardiac Valvular Calcification, Malnutrition, Inflammation, and Atherosclerosis Components in Hemodialysis Patients.
Genctoy, Gultekin; Eldem, Olcay; Ergun, Tarkan; Arikan, Serap
Cardiac valvular calcification (CVC) in end-stage renal disease is shown to be a component of malnutrition, inflammation, atherosclerosis, calcification (MIAC) syndrome. Thoracic periaortic fat tissue (T-PAFT) is shown to be increased in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and has positive correlation with MIAC. Negative correlation between CVC and vitamin D is shown in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we investigated a relationship between body composition, T-PAFT, metabolic and inflammatory parameters, and CVC in HD patients. Seventy-six HD patients (49M) were included. CVC is defined as bright echoes of >1 mm on one or more cusps on echocardiography. Results were expressed as the number of calcified valves (0,1,2). Calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin and 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were studied from predialysis blood samples. T-PAFT was calculated using a method with manual definition of borders on images from multislice computed tomography. Basal metabolic rate, muscle mass, total and truncal fat mass were measured by bioimpedance analysis. There were 65.8% of patients who had CVC. Patients with CVC were older (63.5 ± 14.6 ± 17, P = 0.02). T-PAFT (1599 ± 596, 739.7 ± 179 mm(2) , P = 0.001) and CRP (15.8 ± 11; 11.1 ± 13.2 mg/dL; P = 0.04) were higher in the group with CVC. T-PAFT had positive correlations with CRP, MIAC, body mass index (BMI) and number of calcified valves, negative correlation with left ventricular ejection fraction, and no correlation with albumin, calcium, phosphorus, and PTH. The logistic regression analysis revealed that T-PAFT was a significant predictor of CVC. In this study, T-PAFT showed a positive correlation with inflammation, CVC, and MIAC score in HD patients. T-PAFT was a significant predictor of CVC.
... page from the NHLBI on Twitter. What Is Percutaneous Coronary Intervention? Español Percutaneous (per-ku-TA-ne-us) coronary intervention (PCI), commonly known as coronary angioplasty (AN-jee- ...
... the NHLBI on Twitter. What Is a Coronary Calcium Scan? A coronary calcium scan is a test ... you have calcifications in your coronary arteries. Coronary Calcium Scan Figure A shows the position of the ...
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
... Rehabilitation Coronary Heart Disease Heart Attack Heart Surgery Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Send a link to NHLBI to someone by ... include lifestyle changes, medicines, and a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty. PCI is ...
MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools
The coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle itself. Damage to or blockage of a coronary artery can result in injury to the heart. Normally, blood flows through a coronary artery unimpeded. However, a ...
Congenital heart defect - coronary artery fistula; Birth defect heart - coronary artery fistula ... attaches to one of the chambers of the heart (the atrium or ventricle) or another blood vessel ( ...
Heart disease, Coronary heart disease, Coronary artery disease; Arteriosclerotic heart disease; CHD; CAD ... down or stop. A risk factor for heart disease is something that increases your chance of getting ...
Counseling the Coronary Patient
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Semmler, Caryl; Semmler, Maynard
The article discusses counseling sessions designed to a) help the coronary patient adjust to cardiovascular disease, b) diminish patient anxieties and fears, and c) educate the patient and family members on controlling risk factors to deter another coronary attack. (JS)
[Ultrasound imaging of coronary artery].
Fuse, Shigeto
Coronary arterial anatomy and the terminology were reviewed. There is a specific portion of coronary artery aneurysm in Kawasaki disease. To investigate coronary arterial lesion, ultrasound imaging is useful because of non-invasive, high special and time resolu tion method. I explained the patient posture, the approaching method to the coronary arter ies, ultrasound setting, measurement of coronary arterial diameter and diastolic measurement.
What Causes Coronary Microvascular Disease?
... Living With Clinical Trials Links Related Topics Angina Atherosclerosis Coronary Heart Disease Coronary Heart Disease Risk Factors ... Microvascular Disease? The same risk factors that cause atherosclerosis may cause coronary microvascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a ...
How Is Coronary Angioplasty Done?
... page from the NHLBI on Twitter. How Is Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Done? Before you have percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), ... wall, relieving the blockage and improving blood flow. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Figure A shows the location of the heart ...
Who Needs Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?
... Rehabilitation Coronary Heart Disease Heart Attack Heart Surgery Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Send a link to NHLBI to someone by ... coronary arteries that can't be treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty. Your doctor ...
Earls, James P
Coronary artery anomalies are uncommon findings but can be of significant clinical importance in a small number of individuals. Clinical presentation depends on the specific anomaly. Most coronary artery anomalies are benign and clinically insignificant, however, some anomalies are potentially significant and can lead to heart failure and even death. Noninvasive imaging has emerged as the preferred way to image coronary anomalies. Both electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) are useful for the diagnosis of anomalous coronary arteries. Recently, MDCT has also proven to be very useful in the detection and characterization of anomalous coronary arteries. This chapter will review the appearance of the most commonly encountered coronary anomalies on MDCT. PMID:17709086
Assessment of coronary thrombolysis
Geltman, E.M.; Abendschein, D.R.; Devries, S.R.
The efficacy of coronary thrombolysis may be assessed by several invasive and noninvasive means, including coronary angiography, contrast and radionuclide angiography, thallium 201 or /sup 99m/Tc-pyrophosphate scintigraphy, positron emission tomography, cardiac ultrasonography, electrocardiography, and analysis of plasma creatine kinase activity. Each technique has its own strengths and limitations, but when used in concert these methods may provide insight into the physiology of coronary reperfusion and the efficacy of reperfusion in individual patients and populations. 104 references.
Coronary Microvascular Disease (MVD)
... narrows the heart's large arteries and reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle. The buildup of plaque also makes it more likely that blood clots will form in your arteries. Blood clots can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. In coronary MVD, however, ...
Coronary magnetic resonance angiography.
Stuber, Matthias; Weiss, Robert G
Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a powerful noninvasive technique with high soft-tissue contrast for the visualization of the coronary anatomy without X-ray exposure. Due to the small dimensions and tortuous nature of the coronary arteries, a high spatial resolution and sufficient volumetric coverage have to be obtained. However, this necessitates scanning times that are typically much longer than one cardiac cycle. By collecting image data during multiple RR intervals, one can successfully acquire coronary MR angiograms. However, constant cardiac contraction and relaxation, as well as respiratory motion, adversely affect image quality. Therefore, sophisticated motion-compensation strategies are needed. Furthermore, a high contrast between the coronary arteries and the surrounding tissue is mandatory. In the present article, challenges and solutions of coronary imaging are discussed, and results obtained in both healthy and diseased states are reviewed. This includes preliminary data obtained with state-of-the-art techniques such as steady-state free precession (SSFP), whole-heart imaging, intravascular contrast agents, coronary vessel wall imaging, and high-field imaging. Simultaneously, the utility of electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) for the visualization of the coronary arteries is discussed. PMID:17610288
Ancrod for coronary angioplasty.
Pothoulakis, A J; Neerukonda, S K; Ansel, G; Jantz, R D
Anticoagulation in the form of intravenous heparin is used after coronary angioplasty to prevent thrombosis. Ancrod, a rapid-acting defibrinogenating agent, has been used in various clinical settings that require anticoagulation. We present the use of ancrod after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in a patients with heparin-induced thrombopathia. PMID:8605439
Pathophysiology of Coronary Collaterals#
Stoller, Michael; Seiler, Christian
While the existence of structural adaptation of coronary anastomoses is undisputed, the potential of coronary collaterals to be capable of functional adaptation has been questioned. For many years, collateral vessels were thought to be rigid tubes allowing only limited blood flow governed by the pressure gradient across them. This concept was consistent with the notion that although collaterals could provide adequate blood flow to maintain resting levels, they would be unable to increase blood flow sufficiently in situations of increased myocardial oxygen demand. However, more recent studies have demonstrated the capability of the collateral circulation to deliver sufficient blood flow even during exertion or pharmacologic stress. Moreover, it has been shown that increases in collateral flow could be attributed directly to collateral vasomotion. This review summarizes the pathophysiology of the coronary collateral circulation, ie the functional adapation of coronary collaterals to acute alterations in the coronary circulation. PMID:23701025
[Pregnancy and coronary artery dissection].
Martínez-Quintana, Efrén; Rodríguez-González, Fayna
Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy is associated with high maternal and fetal mortality. Coronary atherosclerosis is the most common cause due to an increase in the age of the patients and the association with cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and the existence of family history of coronary disease. However, thrombosis, coronary dissection or coronary vasospasms are other causes that may justify it. We report the case of a 33 weeks pregnant first-time mother, without cardiovascular risk factors, who presented an acute coronary event in the context of atherosclerotic disease and coronary dissection after percutaneous coronary intervention.
[Pregnancy and coronary artery dissection].
Martínez-Quintana, Efrén; Rodríguez-González, Fayna
Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy is associated with high maternal and fetal mortality. Coronary atherosclerosis is the most common cause due to an increase in the age of the patients and the association with cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, and the existence of family history of coronary disease. However, thrombosis, coronary dissection or coronary vasospasms are other causes that may justify it. We report the case of a 33 weeks pregnant first-time mother, without cardiovascular risk factors, who presented an acute coronary event in the context of atherosclerotic disease and coronary dissection after percutaneous coronary intervention. PMID:25795261
Ectopic Origin of Coronary Arteries Diagnozed by Coronary Angiography
Krasniqi, Xhevdet; Gorani, Daut; Sejdiu, Basri; Citaku, Hajdin
Introduction: Anomalous origin of coronary arteries from opposite sinus of Valsalva is rare finding. The incidence of anomalous origination of the left coronary artery from right sinus is 0.15% and the right coronary artery from the left sinus is 0.92%. The ectopic origin of left coronary artery or right coronary artery from opposite sinus depending on pathways and considering atherosclerotic changes are manifested with different clinical significance. Case report: We report two cases, the first case the coronary angiography showed the left coronary artery arising from the right coronary sinus, presenting with proximally and distally stenosed left anterior descending artery (LAD), associated with medial and distal stenosed right coronary artery (RCA). The second case the coronary angiography revealed the right coronary artery arising from the left coronary sinus, associated with tortuous medial and distal segments of left anterior descending artery (LAD), without atherosclerotic changes. The first case successfully underwent treatment procedures based on guidelines for revascularization. Conclusion: The coronary angiography of patients with coronary ischemia determines atherosclerotic disease with possibility of the presence of coronary artery anomalies that in cases with ectopic origin from opposite sinus continues to exist as a challenge during treatment in interventional cardiology. PMID:27482140
Eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis.
Carreon, Chrystalle Katte; Esposito, Michael J
Eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis is an unfamiliar cause of acute myocardial ischemia. Most commonly, it presents as a left-sided chest pain or sudden death in middle-aged women with no traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease. Because the abrupt onset leaves almost no time for intervention, the symptoms readily lead to death, and most cases are diagnosed at necropsy. Dissection of the coronary artery wall with resultant occlusion of the lumen, which commonly affects the left anterior descending artery, is a consistent gross finding. An inflammatory infiltrate, which is predominantly composed of eosinophils in the tunica adventitia and tunica media and is often accompanied by a hematoma in between these 2 layers, is observed histologically. The etiology remains unclear, but an increase in the activity of eosinophils because of hormonal interactions during pregnancy has been suggested. Interplay of hormones is thought to culminate in the release of histolytic agents by the eosinophils, which initiate the dissection process. Currently, there is no specific treatment for eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis, but cyclophosphamide and prednisone have shown positive results in the treatment of spontaneous coronary artery dissection with unspecified periadventitial inflammation. Percutaneous coronary procedures have also resulted in favorable outcomes in a subset of patients. Because of the high, sudden death rate in eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis, deciphering the underlying pathophysiology of this almost invariably fatal disease remains both a challenge and a key to developing screening methods that will allow timely detection and thus treatment.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease. It is the leading cause of death ... both men and women. CAD happens when the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened ...
Said, S.A.M.; Thiadens, A.A.H.J.; Fieren, M.J.C.H.; Meijboom, E.J.; van der Werf, T.; Bennink, G.B.W.E.
The aetiology of congenital coronary artery fistulas remains a challenging issue. Coronary arteries with an anatomically normal origin may, for obscure reasons, terminate abnormally and communicate with different single or multiple cardiac chambers or great vessels. When this occurs, the angiographic morphological appearance may vary greatly from discrete channels to plexiform network of vessels. Coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVFs) have neither specific signs nor pathognomonic symptoms; the spectrum of clinical features varies considerably. The clinical presentation of symptomatic cases can include angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, fatigue, dyspnoea, CHF, SBE, ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias or even sudden cardiac death. CAVFs may, however, be a coincidental finding during diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG). CAG is considered the gold standard for diagnosing and delineating the morphological anatomy and pathway of CAVFs. There are various tailored therapeutic modalities for the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of CAVFs, including conservative pharmacological strategy, percutaneous transluminal embolisation and surgical ligation. ImagesFigure 1Figure 2Figure 3Figure 4 PMID:25696067
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
... t help, you may need coronary artery bypass surgery. The surgery creates a new path for blood to flow ... more than one bypass. The results of the surgery usually are excellent. Many people remain symptom-free ...
... ve started to help the medicine work. Other Organizations American Heart Association Questions to Ask Your Doctor Am I at risk for coronary artery disease (CAD)? What lifestyle changes should I make to decrease my risk of ...
Directional coronary atherectomy (DCA)
MedlinePlus Videos and Cool Tools
... with rotation of the catheter, the balloon can be deflated and re-inflated to cut the blockage ... uniform debulking. A device called a stent may be placed within the coronary artery to keep the ...
Coronary fistulas: a case series.
Nada, Fennich; Fedoua, Elouali; Ghita, Saghi; Nadia, Bouzammour; Leila, Haddour; Jamila, Zarzur; Mohamed, Cherti
Coronary artery fistula is an uncommon finding during angiographic exams. We report a case series of five patients with congenital coronary fistulas. The first patient was 56 years old and had a coronary fistula associated with a partial atrio ventricular defect, the second patient was 54 years old and had two fistulas originating from the right coronary artery with a severe atherosclerotic coronary disease, the third patient was 57 years old with a fistula originating from the circumflex artery associated with a rheumatic mitral stenosis, the fourth patient was 50 years old and had a fistulous communication between the right coronary artery and the right bronchial artery, and the last patient was 12 years old who had bilateral coronary fistulas draining into the right ventricle with an aneurismal dilatation of the coronary arteries. Angiographic aspects of coronary fistulas are various; management is controversial and depends on the presence of symptoms.
[Acute coronary syndromes: epidemiology].
Ozkan, Alev Arat
Coronary heart disease is the main cause of death in the world as well as in Turkey. It's not only a health issue but also a social problem with a high economic burden and negative impact on quality of life. The majority of deaths are attributable to acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and their complications.This review summarizes some important facts regarding ACS epidemiology in the world and in Turkey. PMID:27323430
Coronary Artery Imaging in Children
Coronary artery problems in children usually have a significant impact on both short-term and long-term outcomes. Early and accurate diagnosis, therefore, is crucial but technically challenging due to the small size of the coronary artery, high heart rates, and limited cooperation of children. Coronary artery visibility on CT and MRI in children is considerably improved with recent technical advancements. Consequently, CT and MRI are increasingly used for evaluating various congenital and acquired coronary artery abnormalities in children, such as coronary artery anomalies, aberrant coronary artery anatomy specific to congenital heart disease, Kawasaki disease, Williams syndrome, and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. PMID:25741188
[Coronary veins and coronary sinus tributary veins in Africans].
Yangni-Angate, H; Kokoua, A; Kouassi, R; Kassanyou, S; Gnagne, Y; Guessan, G N; Cowppli-Bony, P; Memel, J B
This anatomical study carried out on 40 African adults hearts studied branches of the coronary sinus. By using of injection of the coronary arteries and corrosion of the myocardium, the study identified certain peculiarities of the small coronary vein and the posterior descending interventricular vein in Africans. PMID:8519704
Lateral rectus palsy following coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention
Nicholson, Luke; Jones, Ruth; Hughes, David S
We present a rare case of unilateral lateral rectus palsy following an elective coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention in a 78-year-oldwoman. Ophthalmoplegia following coronary angiography is extremely rare and this is the first case of a unilateral lateral rectus palsy following the procedure. PMID:24536054
Functional Testing Underlying Coronary Revascularisation
Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease; Vessel Disease; Stable Angina; Unstable Angina or Stabilized Non-ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction; Patients With ST-elevated Myocardial Infarction; Revascularization of Culprit Coronary Artery
Integrative physiology of coronary microcirculation.
Kajiya, F; Goto, M
Coronary microvessels play a crucial role for mechanoenergetic interaction between blood flow and myocardial function, which is not uniform transmurally. Thus, highly organized vascular regulations are required for matching local blood flow with myocardial energy requirement. Recently, new technologies to investigate in vivo coronary microcirculation with new knowledge of the signaling molecules for vascular regulation have revolutionized our abilities to understand the integrative regulation of coronary microcirculation. In this review, the mechanical aspects of the interaction between coronary blood flow and myocardium, coronary arte-rial tree and its roles in myocardial blood flow regulation, hierarchical and dynamic control of coronary flow, capillary network and function, function of venous drainage system, and molecular and cellular aspects of integrative coronary blood flow regulation are discussed, focusing on their integrational roles in maintaining coronary microvascular function and cell signaling.
Coronary Intramural Hematoma Presenting as Acute Coronary Syndrome.
Shimada, Takenobu; Kadota, Kazushige; Kubo, Shunsuke; Habara, Seiji; Mitsudo, Kazuaki
We herein report a case of intramural hematoma without ongoing myocardial ischemia that healed spontaneously with conservative treatment. A 37-year-old woman was admitted due to chest pain. Acute coronary syndrome was diagnosed by electrocardiography and echocardiography. Coronary angiography showed 90% stenosis in the distal portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, where intravascular ultrasound showed a hematoma, but optical coherence tomography could not detect the entry point. Therefore, we identified the intramural hematoma as the etiology. Because the coronary flow was maintained and chest pain disappeared, we chose conservative treatment. Fifteen days after admission, coronary computed tomography showed an improvement in the intramural hematoma. PMID:27477409
[Transluminal percutaneous coronary angioplasty of the left coronary artery].
Alfonso, F; Macaya, C; Iñíguez, A; Goicolea, J; Hernández, R A; Fernández-Ortiz, A; Zamorano, J; Casado, J; Zarco, P
This paper describes our preliminary experience with left main coronary angioplasty in 8 patients (9 procedures). In 6 patients the left main coronary artery was "protected" either by previous by-pass surgery (4 patients) or by collateral vessels from the right coronary artery (2 patients). Three patients had a total occlusion of the left main coronary artery and 2 of them had a recent or acute myocardial infarction and the coronary angiogram suggested a thrombotic occlusion of the infarct-related artery. Three patients were not considered surgical candidates and an additional patient, who was in cardiogenic shock, required an emergency coronary angioplasty as "rescue" procedure. A successful dilatation was achieved in 6 patients (including a patient with successful deployment of a Palmaz-Schatz stent) but, unfortunately, one them eventually died 7 days later from a femoral sepsis related to the procedure. However in the 2 remaining patients--with a total occlusion of the left main coronary artery in relation with a myocardial infarction--the dilatation procedures were unsuccessful. One patient underwent a successful repeat coronary angioplasty for restenosis of left main coronary artery. Our preliminary experience confirms previous reports suggesting the value of coronary angioplasty in patients with left main coronary artery disease providing a careful selection of possible candidates is performed prior to the procedure.
Coronary artery disease (image)
... through these arteries is critical for the heart. Coronary artery disease usually results from the build-up of fatty material and plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis. As the ... blood to the heart can slow or stop, causing chest pain (stable ...
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Hidden Coronary Artery-Unusual Type of Isolated Single Coronary Artery.
Patil, Shivanand; Rachaiah, Jayasheelan Mambally; Ramalingam, Rangaraj; Manjunath, Cholenahally Nanjappa; Subramanyam, Kasamsetty
Single coronary artery is a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly, the incidence of which is 0.024-0.066% as described in literature. Report of cases having single coronary artery along with acute myocardial infarction are scanty and reports of percutaneous intervention in such a situation are even fewer, technically challenging and potentially cataclysmic. As single coronary artery supplies the entire myocardium, occlusion of this can result in significant ischemic insult, resulting in severe biventricular dysfunction. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) of single coronary artery is technically challenging and carries high risk which may be equated to left main intervention. We report a rare interesting case of L1 variety of single coronary artery which presented as acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction with successful rescue PCI to Left Circumflex Artery (LCx). PMID:27656488
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention of Hidden Coronary Artery-Unusual Type of Isolated Single Coronary Artery
Patil, Shivanand; Ramalingam, Rangaraj; Manjunath, Cholenahally Nanjappa; Subramanyam, Kasamsetty
Single coronary artery is a rare congenital coronary artery anomaly, the incidence of which is 0.024-0.066% as described in literature. Report of cases having single coronary artery along with acute myocardial infarction are scanty and reports of percutaneous intervention in such a situation are even fewer, technically challenging and potentially cataclysmic. As single coronary artery supplies the entire myocardium, occlusion of this can result in significant ischemic insult, resulting in severe biventricular dysfunction. Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) of single coronary artery is technically challenging and carries high risk which may be equated to left main intervention. We report a rare interesting case of L1 variety of single coronary artery which presented as acute inferoposterior myocardial infarction with successful rescue PCI to Left Circumflex Artery (LCx). PMID:27656488
Atrial myxomas and coronary angiography.
Rafiq, Isma; Parthasarthy, H; Clark, C Grahame
Coronary angiography is not an only important component of preoperative evaluation of the patient with underlying coronary artery disease but also diagnostic tool for delineating cardiac myxomas. This also serve as an important surgical anatomical marker. We present two cases which presented with repeated episode of chest pain, were found to have atrial blushing on coronary angiography subsequent confirmation of diagnosis of atrial myxoma on echocardiography. PMID:20578102
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.
Tweet, Marysia S; Gulati, Rajiv; Hayes, Sharonne N
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an important etiology of nonatherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Innovations in the catheterization laboratory including optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound have enhanced the ability to visualize intimal disruption and intramural hematoma associated with SCAD. Formerly considered "rare," these technological advances and heightened awareness suggest that SCAD is more prevalent than prior estimates. SCAD is associated with female sex, young age, extreme emotional stress, or extreme exertion, pregnancy, and fibromuscular dysplasia. The clinical characteristics and management strategies of SCAD patients are different than for atherosclerotic heart disease and deserve specific consideration. This review will highlight recent discoveries about SCAD as well as describe current efforts to elucidate remaining gaps in knowledge.
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.
Tweet, Marysia S; Gulati, Rajiv; Hayes, Sharonne N
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an important etiology of nonatherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Innovations in the catheterization laboratory including optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound have enhanced the ability to visualize intimal disruption and intramural hematoma associated with SCAD. Formerly considered "rare," these technological advances and heightened awareness suggest that SCAD is more prevalent than prior estimates. SCAD is associated with female sex, young age, extreme emotional stress, or extreme exertion, pregnancy, and fibromuscular dysplasia. The clinical characteristics and management strategies of SCAD patients are different than for atherosclerotic heart disease and deserve specific consideration. This review will highlight recent discoveries about SCAD as well as describe current efforts to elucidate remaining gaps in knowledge. PMID:27216840
Balloon catheter coronary angioplasty
Angelini, P.
The author has produced a reference and teaching book on balloon angioplasty. Because it borders in surgery and is performed on an awake patient without circulatory assistance, it is a complex and demanding procedure that requires thorough knowledge before it is attempted. The text is divided into seven sections. The first section describes coronary anatomy and pathophysiology, defines the objectives and mechanisms of the procedure and lists four possible physiologic results. The next section describes equipment in the catheterization laboratory, catheters, guidewires and required personnel. The following section is on the procedure itself and includes a discussion of examination, testing, technique and follow-up. The fourth section details possible complications that can occur during the procedure, such as coronary spasms, occlusion, thrombosis, perforations and ruptures, and also discusses cardiac surgery after failed angioplasty. The fifth section details complex or unusual cases that can occur. The sixth and seventh sections discuss radiation, alternative procedures and the future of angioplasty.
Left Main Coronary Artery Aneurysm
Doustkami, Hossein; Maleki, Nasrollah; Tavosi, Zahra
Aneurysms of the left main coronary artery are exceedingly rare clinical entities, encountered incidentally in approximately 0.1% of patients who undergo routine angiography. The most common cause of coronary artery aneurysms is atherosclerosis. Angiography is the gold standard for diagnosis and treatment. Depending on the severity of the coexisting coronary stenosis, patients with left main coronary artery aneurysms can be effectively managed either surgically or pharmacologically. We herein report a case of left main coronary artery aneurysm in a 72-year-old man with a prior history of hypertension presenting to our hospital because of unstable angina. The electrocardiogram showed ST-segment depression and T-wave inversion in the precordial leads. All the data of blood chemistry were normal. Echocardiography showed akinetic anterior wall, septum, and apex, mild mitral regurgitation and ejection fraction of 45%. Coronary angiography revealed a saccular aneurysm of the left main coronary artery with significant stenosis in the left anterior descending, left circumflex, and right coronary artery. The patient immediately underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and ligation of the aneurysm. At six months' follow-up, he remained asymptomatic. PMID:27403190
Perspectives in coronary prevention.
Turner, R. W.
The seeds of premature coronary heart disease are often sown in childhood and it is the developing arteries of children which are the most susceptible. Paediatricians and all who work with them have the earliest and most promising opportunities for prevention. Coronary protection can be added to the potential advantages of breast feeding and to ensure appropriate fatty acid balance throughout weaning. It is reasonable to accept the strong consensus of opinion on diet reflected in the reports of the eighteen national committees. They are: to reduce total fat intake to 30-35% of the energy, to restrict consumption of saturated fat, cholesterol, sugar, and salt, to increase unrefined carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fat, and to maintain a P/S balance of 1.0-1.5:1. Food is the fundamental coronary risk factor, but others may add insult to injury. Smoking, hypertension, obesity, lack of exercise, and stress, each of which is related to behaviour, may start in childhood. Smoking doubles the overall risk CHD and increases it ten times in males under 45 years old. Good habits, including food preferences and eating patterns learned early, are those most likely to be continued. School meals require and should match revised nutritional education. The co-operation of the food industry is essential and can be anticipated, but it requires a clear lead by paediatricians. The nutritional advice should come from the medical profession. Every contact with children and their parents provides an opportunity for enquiry and giving advice. PMID:349532
Digital coronary roadmapping as an aid for performing coronary angioplasty.
Tobis, J; Johnston, W D; Montelli, S; Henderson, E; Roeck, W; Bauer, B; Nalcioglu, O; Henry, W
In an attempt to improve visualization of the position of the guidewire and dilatation balloon during coronary angioplasty, a method was developed called digital coronary roadmapping. With this method a digitally acquired coronary angiogram is interlaced with the live fluoroscopic image of the guidewire and balloon catheter. The digital coronary angiogram is superimposed at the same magnification and radiologic projection as the live fluoroscopic image onto the video monitor above the catheterization table. The digital roadmap image thus provides immediate feedback to the angiographer to assist in directing the guidewire into the appropriate coronary artery branch and to help in placement of the balloon so that it straddles the site of stenosis. PMID:3161319
The Coronary Patient in Industry
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Schuster, B.
The coronary patient, as he pertains to industry particularly NASA, is discussed. Concepts of precoronary care, acute attacks which may develop while on the job, and the return of the cardiac patient to work are covered. Major emphasis was on the prevention of sudden death due to coronary disease.
Coronary revascularization: 2011.
Butman, Samuel M
Coronary revascularization is a proven method to alleviate the symptoms of ischemic heart disease and improve survival. There have been many improvements in surgical revascularization since its advent > 40 years ago and in balloon angioplasty since its first usage > 30 years ago. Patients will continue to benefit as these surgical techniques continue to undergo further improvements. This article is a testament to the many physicians, surgeons, scientists, industry leaders, and insurers who continue to reinvent how we provide cutting-edge procedures in the most cost-effective manner for our patients.
Coronary artery aneurysms and ectasia: role of coronary CT angiography.
Díaz-Zamudio, Mariana; Bacilio-Pérez, Ulises; Herrera-Zarza, Mary C; Meave-González, Aloha; Alexanderson-Rosas, Erick; Zambrana-Balta, Greby F; Kimura-Hayama, Eric T
Coronary artery dilatations-aneurysms and ectasia-are an uncommon and frequently unrecognized incidental finding in patients with coronary artery disease. Aneurysms and ectasia are associated with a vast group of disorders, and the evaluation and characterization of coronary aneurysms and ectasia represent a great diagnostic task with clinical and therapeutic implications. The underlying etiology is variable and includes degenerative, congenital, inflammatory, infectious, toxic, and traumatic causes. Unlike aneurysms, ectasia is more frequently seen in association with atherosclerosis or as a compensatory mechanism in those cases in which a proximal stenosis is noted in the opposite coronary artery; ectasia is also seen in some coronary artery anomalies, such as anomalous origin from the pulmonary artery, or as a result of a high-flow state, as seen in coronary artery fistulas. The diagnostic approach depends on the clinical scenario, and nowadays, noninvasive evaluation with multidetector computed tomography is possible. Imaging assessment should include evaluation of (a) the distribution, (b) maximal diameter, (c) presence or absence of intraluminal thrombi, (d) number, (e) extension, and (f) associated complications such as myocardial infarction. This article presents an overview of the definition, classification, etiology, clinical manifestations, and potential complications of coronary artery aneurysms and ectasia.
[Elective percutaneous coronary intervention after acute coronary syndrome].
Sebetić, Drazen; Raguz, Miroslav; Sakić, Ivana; Lazić, Jelenko; Puksić, Silva; Bergovec, Mijo
Elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS), according to guidelines issued by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC), is a therapeutic method that is indicated in patients with ACS with ST segment elevation in case of persistent signs of myocardial ischemia and with significant stenosis of coronary artery verified by coronary angiography, suitable for PCI according to the guidelines. It is also indicated for non-culprit significant stenosis of other coronary arteries which have been seen during primary PCI for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). After non ST segment myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or after non-ST elevation ACS, elective coronary artery angiography is indicated in low risk patients if they have positive signs of ischemia on noninvasive tests. Depending on the results of coronary angiography, elective PCI is indicated according to ESC or AHA/ACC guidelines. The method success is assessed at three levels, i.e. by angiography, clinically and periprocedurally. PCI enables earlier and more efficient resolution of symptoms, better effort tolerance and lower rate of residual ischemia on noninvasive tests. PMID:19681465
Clinical Problems In Coronary Angioscopy
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sherman, C. Todd
I have been asked to talk about the clinical problems encountered when performing coronary angioscopy. By definition, this discussion will reflect negatively on the procedure. Nevertheless, after presenting some of the data, I hope you will leave thinking optimistically about the future of coronary angioscopy. The first topic that I would like to address, as shown in Figure 1, concerns the goals for coronary angioscopy. What great discoveries might we ekpect from this tool? Is the potential benefit worthy of a large research and development investment? Then, assuming these goals are meritorious, I will compare the difficulties of percutaneous angioscopy with that of a more fully explored technique- intraoperative angioscopy. I will next describe the differences between percutaneous angioscopy of peripheral vasculature, a procedure enjoying more widespread use, and percutaneous coronary angioscopy (a technique less often utilized). I will then outline the basic requirements for any percutaneous coronary angioscopy system whose attributes can resolve some of the inherent challenges of the technique. Even if this hypothetical instrument were developed and proved to be safe and functional, angioscopy will always have intrinsic limitations. I will next outline these shortcomings. This will be followed by a more optimistic topic- a review of the published studies that have utilized percutaneous coronary angioscopy. Finally, I will speculate on developments in coronary angioscopy for the near future.
Almanac 2015: coronary artery disease.
Shavelle, David M
Recent years have seen major advances in the evaluation and treatment of patients with coronary artery disease. These include assessment of novel biomarkers and imaging methods for patients at risk for coronary artery disease, care of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, a novel device to treat medical refractory angina, use of non-statin lipid-lowering agents, a better understanding of the risks and benefits of long-term dual antiplatelet therapy and the use of the newer antiplatelet agents. This article summarises research related to coronary artery disease published in Heart in 2014 and 2015, within the context of other major cardiovascular journals. PMID:26819234
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Enhances Accelerative Wave Intensity in Coronary Arteries
Narayan, Om; Leung, Michael C. H.; Wong, Dennis T. L.; Meredith, Ian T.; Cameron, James D.
Background The systolic forward travelling compression wave (sFCW) and diastolic backward travelling decompression waves (dBEW) predominantly accelerate coronary blood flow. The effect of a coronary stenosis on the intensity of these waves in the distal vessel is unknown. We investigated the relationship between established physiological indices of hyperemic coronary flow and the intensity of the two major accelerative coronary waves identified by Coronary Wave Intensity analysis (CWIA). Methodology / Principal Findings Simultaneous intracoronary pressure and velocity measurement was performed during adenosine induced hyperemia in 17 patients with pressure / Doppler flow wires positioned distal to the target lesion. CWI profiles were generated from this data. Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) and Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve (CFVR) were calculated concurrently. The intensity of the dBEW was significantly correlated with FFR (R = -0.70, P = 0.003) and CFVR (R = -0.73, P = 0.001). The intensity of the sFCW was also significantly correlated with baseline FFR (R = 0.71, p = 0.002) and CFVR (R = 0.59, P = 0.01). Stenting of the target lesion resulted in a median 178% (interquartile range 55–280%) (P<0.0001) increase in sFCW intensity and a median 117% (interquartile range 27–509%) (P = 0.001) increase in dBEW intensity. The increase in accelerative wave intensity following PCI was proportionate to the baseline FFR and CFVR, such that stenting of lesions associated with the greatest flow limitation (lowest FFR and CFVR) resulted in the largest increases in wave intensity. Conclusions Increasing ischemia severity is associated with proportionate reductions in cumulative intensity of both major accelerative coronary waves. Impaired diastolic microvascular decompression may represent a novel, important pathophysiologic mechanism driving the reduction in coronary blood flow in the setting of an epicardial stenosis. PMID:26658896
Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors, Coronary Artery Calcification and Coronary Bypass Surgery
Ulusoy, Fatih Rifat; Ipek, Emrah; Korkmaz, Ali Fuat; Gurler, Mehmet Yavuz; Gulbaran, Murat
Introduction Atherosclerosis is an intimal disease which affects large and medium size arteries including aorta and carotid, coronary, cerebral and radial arteries. Calcium accumulated in the coronary arterial plaques have substantial contribution to the plaque volume. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors and coronary arterial calcification, and to delineate the importance of CACS in coronary artery bypass surgery. Materials and Methods The current study is retrospective and 410 patients admitted to our clinic with atypical chest pain and without known CAD were included. These individuals were evaluated by 16 slice electron beam computed tomography with suspicion of CAD and their calcium scores were calculated. Detailed demographic and medical history were obtained from all of the patients. Results In our study, we employed five different analyses using different coronary arterial calcification score (CACS) thresold levels reported in previous studies. All of the analyses, performed according to the previously defined thresold levels, showed that risk factors had strong positive relationship with CACS as mentioned in previous studies. Conclusion Coronary arterial calcification is part of the athero-sclerotic process and although it can be detected in atherosclerotic vessel, it is absent in a normal vessel. It can be concluded that the clinical scores, even they are helpful, have some limitations in a significant part of the population for cardiovascular risk determination. It is important for an anastomosis region to be noncalcified in coronary bypass surgery. In a coronary artery, it will be helpness for showing of calcific field and anostomosis spot. PMID:26155507
[Coronary intervention. 2012 update].
Rittger, H; Arnold, M; Schmid, M; Zimmermann, S; Daniel, W G
In-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis are still the main topics of any update on coronary intervention. One of the challenging issues in the past year lay in answering the question of whether the data on first-generation drug-eluting stents are still relevant in the light of newer stent designs and drugs. Other issues include new strategies in antiplatelet therapy, treatment of in-stent restenosis, particularly drug-eluting stent restenosis, treatment of multivessel and left-main disease, as well as the latest developments in bioresorbable polymers and "scaffolds". In the light of demographic changes, the main challenge for the interventional community is to build an evidence base for the adequate treatment of elderly patients in order to resolve uncertainties in the treatment of this challenging patient group. PMID:22382138
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
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Physiologic assessment of coronary artery fistula
Gupta, N.C.; Beauvais, J. )
Coronary artery fistula is an uncommon clinical entity. The most common coronary artery fistula is from the right coronary artery to the right side of the heart, and it is less frequent to the pulmonary artery. The effect of a coronary artery fistula may be physiologically significant because of the steal phenomenon resulting in coronary ischemia. Based on published reports, it is recommended that patients with congenital coronary artery fistulas be considered candidates for elective surgical correction to prevent complications including development of congestive heart failure, angina, subacute bacterial endocarditis, myocardial infarction, and coronary aneurysm formation with rupture or embolization. A patient is presented in whom treadmill-exercise thallium imaging was effective in determining the degree of coronary steal from a coronary artery fistula, leading to successful corrective surgery.
[Guided coronary atherectomy: preliminary results].
Iñíguez Romo, A; Macaya Miquel, C; Casado Larre, J; Hernández Antolín, R A; Alfonso Manterola, F; Goikolea Ruigómez, J; Arangoncillo, P; Zarco Gutiérrez, P
Coronary atherectomy implies removing atheromatous material from the diseased coronary arterial wall. This technique has emerged as an attractive alternative to conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures, in an attempt to diminish both initial procedural failure and restenosis rate. Among different technologies, the Simpson's atherotome provides a means of performing directional (i.e. selective) coronary atherectomy (DCA). This device implements a coaxial catheter which is advanced into the lesion over a steerable guidewire. Its distal tip includes a hollow metallic cylinder with a lateral window. Removal of the material is accomplished by a rotating cutter which can be moved distally, once the device's window has been orientated facing the lesion. We have performed 14 DCA in 14 patients. Mean age was 58 years and 12 patients were male. The technique was indicated for unstable angina (7 patients), stable angina (4 patients) and silent myocardial ischemia (3 patients). Fifteen lesions were attempted (13 original and two with restenosis), located as follows: nine in the left anterior descending coronary artery, three in the right coronary artery and three in the left circumflex artery. Eleven lesions were proximal and four were located in mid coronary segments. Twelve lesions (80%) were eccentric, and five (33%) were irregular. Initial angiographic success (residual stenosis less than 50%) was obtained in all 15 lesions (100%). Pre-DCA stenosis was 84 +/- 5% and post-DCA stenosis was 16 +/- 6%. There was no need for urgent coronary artery by-pass surgery and no patient developed an acute myocardial infarction in relation to the procedure. A 82-year-old woman died after the procedure in cardiogenic shock.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Thyroid Function, Prevalent Coronary Heart Disease, and Severity of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography
Ling, Yan; Jiang, Jingjing; Gui, Minghui; Liu, Lin; Aleteng, Qiqige; Wu, Bingjie; Wang, Shanshan; Liu, Xiaojing; Gao, Xin
This study investigated if free T4 and TSH concentrations or thyroid function categories were associated with prevalent CHD and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in a population undergoing coronary angiography. This was a cross-sectional study including 1799 patients who were consecutively admitted and underwent coronary angiography. We evaluated the severity of coronary atherosclerosis using Gensini score. In the entire study population, free T4 level was inversely associated with prevalent CHD (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.91–0.99, P = 0.01) and the natural log-transformed Gensini score (ln(Gensini score)) (β = −0.03, 95% CI −0.05–−0.01, P = 0.005). The odds of CHD increased gradually across hyperthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and overt hypothyroidism groups using the euthyroid group as the reference, and the trend is borderline significant (P for trend = 0.051). When comparing to the euthyroid group, ln(Gensini score) of the overt hypothyroidism group was significantly higher (P = 0.009), but the trend was not significant (P for trend = 0.08). A significant association of thyroid function with CHD or ln(Gensini score) in euthyroid patients was not observed. The present study demonstrated an association of thyroid function with prevalent CHD and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis in a population undergoing coronary angiography. However, this association was not observed in euthyroid individuals. PMID:26770196
Screening for Coronary Heart Disease with Electrocardiography
... Force Recommendations Screening for Coronary Heart Disease with Electrocardiography The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) ... recommendations on Screening for Coronary Heart Disease with Electrocardiography . These recommendations are for adult men and women ...
Bilateral Giant Coronary Artery Aneurysms Complicated by Acute Coronary Syndrome and Cardiogenic Shock.
Chiu, Peter; Lynch, Donald; Jahanayar, Jama; Rogers, Ian S; Tremmel, Jennifer; Boyd, Jack
Giant coronary aneurysms are rare. We present a 25-year-old woman with a known history of non-Kawasaki/nonatherosclerotic bilateral coronary aneurysms. She was transferred to our facility with acute coronary syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock. Angiography demonstrated giant bilateral coronary aneurysms and complete occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Emergent coronary artery bypass grafting was performed. Coronary artery bypass grafting is the preferred approach for addressing giant coronary aneurysms. Intervention on the aneurysm varies in the literature. Aggressive revascularization is recommended in the non-Kawasaki/nonatherosclerotic aneurysm patient, and ligation should be performed in patients with thromboembolic phenomena. PMID:27000621
Histopathologic Characteristics of a Coronary-pulmonary Artery Fistula with a Coronary Artery Aneurysm
Sakata, Noriyuki; Minematsu, Noritoshi; Morishige, Noritsugu; Tashiro, Tadashi; Imanaga, Yoshinobu
Here, we report a case of a 59-year-old woman with a coronary-pulmonary artery fistula with a concomitant coronary artery aneurysm, which comprised an anomalous coronary artery originating at the right coronary cusp, an aberrant branch of the left anterior descending artery, and a coronary artery aneurysm draining into the main pulmonary artery. Histopathologically, non-dilated anomalous coronary artery showed the preservation of internal elastic lamina and medial smooth muscle cell phenotype which lacked in the aneurysmal wall. Thus, the disrupted internal elastic lamina and phenotypic change of medial smooth muscle cells might contribute to aneurysm formation in a coronary-pulmonary arterial fistula. PMID:23555427
[Single coronary artery and right aortic arch].
Martínez-Quintana, Efrén; Rodríguez-González, Fayna
Coronary anomalies are mostly asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during coronary angiography or echocardiography. However, they must be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of angina, dyspnea, syncope, acute myocardial infarction or sudden death in young patients. The case is presented of two rare anomalies, single coronary artery originating from right sinus of Valsalva and right aortic arch, in a 65 year-old patient with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease treated percutaneously.
Coronary Ostial Stenosis after Aortic Valve Replacement
Ziakas, Antonios G.; Economou, Fotios I.; Charokopos, Nicholas A.; Pitsis, Antonios A.; Parharidou, Despina G.; Papadopoulos, Thomas I.; Parharidis, Georgios E.
Coronary ostial stenosis is a rare but potentially serious sequela after aortic valve replacement. It occurs in the left main or right coronary artery after 1% to 5% of aortic valve replacement procedures. The clinical symptoms are usually severe and may appear from 1 to 6 months postoperatively. Although the typical treatment is coronary artery bypass grafting, patients have been successfully treated by means of percutaneous coronary intervention. Herein, we present the cases of 2 patients in whom coronary ostial stenosis developed after aortic valve replacement. In the 1st case, a 72-year-old man underwent aortic valve replacement and bypass grafting of the saphenous vein to the left anterior descending coronary artery. Six months later, he experienced a non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography revealed a critical stenosis of the right coronary artery ostium. In the 2nd case, a 78-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement and grafting of the saphenous vein to an occluded right coronary artery. Four months later, she experienced unstable angina. Coronary angiography showed a critical left main coronary artery ostial stenosis and occlusion of the right coronary artery venous graft. In each patient, we performed percutaneous coronary intervention and deployed a drug-eluting stent. Both patients were asymptomatic on 6-to 12-month follow-up. We attribute the coronary ostial stenosis to the selective ostial administration of cardioplegic solution during surgery. We conclude that retrograde administration of cardioplegic solution through the coronary sinus may reduce the incidence of postoperative coronary ostial stenosis, and that stenting may be an efficient treatment option. PMID:20844624
[Single coronary artery and right aortic arch].
Martínez-Quintana, Efrén; Rodríguez-González, Fayna
Coronary anomalies are mostly asymptomatic and diagnosed incidentally during coronary angiography or echocardiography. However, they must be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of angina, dyspnea, syncope, acute myocardial infarction or sudden death in young patients. The case is presented of two rare anomalies, single coronary artery originating from right sinus of Valsalva and right aortic arch, in a 65 year-old patient with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease treated percutaneously. PMID:25304052
The ASSURE ROT Registry: Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Following Rotablation for Complex Coronary Lesions
Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Disease; Myocardial Ischemia; Coronary Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Heart Diseases; Coronary Stenosis; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Vascular Diseases
Assessment of coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
Preston, T A
Coronary bypass surgery developed as another in a line of surgical procedures dating back more than 60 years. The medical profession at first assessed this procedure with time-honored anecdotal techniques. Gradually, for a variety of reasons, improved methods of comparisons worked their way into assessments of bypass surgery. Randomized controlled trials met resistance but have been very influential. Assessment of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has benefited from the knowledge generated during the last 25 years, but clinicians have been slower to apply the most advanced techniques.
Epidemiology of coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome
Perez-Quilis, Carme; Leischik, Roman; Lucia, Alejandro
The aim of this review is to summarize the incidence, prevalence, trend in mortality, and general prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) and a related condition, acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although CHD mortality has gradually declined over the last decades in western countries, this condition still causes about one-third of all deaths in people older than 35 years. This evidence, along with the fact that mortality from CHD is expected to continue increasing in developing countries, illustrates the need for implementing effective primary prevention approaches worldwide and identifying risk groups and areas for possible improvement. PMID:27500157
Epidemiology of coronary heart disease and acute coronary syndrome.
Sanchis-Gomar, Fabian; Perez-Quilis, Carme; Leischik, Roman; Lucia, Alejandro
The aim of this review is to summarize the incidence, prevalence, trend in mortality, and general prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) and a related condition, acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although CHD mortality has gradually declined over the last decades in western countries, this condition still causes about one-third of all deaths in people older than 35 years. This evidence, along with the fact that mortality from CHD is expected to continue increasing in developing countries, illustrates the need for implementing effective primary prevention approaches worldwide and identifying risk groups and areas for possible improvement. PMID:27500157
Angiographic evidence of coronary occlusion and resolution
Kavanagh-Gray, Doris
A case of myocardial infarction with angiographically demonstrated occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery is presented. Repeat angiography 18 months later revealed patent coronary arteries despite persistent electrocardiographic infarction pattern. Coronary artery occlusion resulting in infarction may not, therefore, be permanent. ImagesFIG. 2 PMID:4824968
Rescue coronary stenting in acute myocardial infarction
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Barbieri, Enrico; Meneghetti, Paolo; Molinari, Gionata; Zardini, Piero
Failed rescue coronary angioplasty is a high risk situation because of high mortality. Coronary stent has given us the chance of improving and maintaining the patency of the artery. We report our preliminary experience of rescue stenting after unsuccessful coronary angioplasty.
Cineangiography of the Coronary Arteries
Tremblay, Gerard M.; Charland, Raymond; Roy, Paul; Primeau, Robert; Nadeau, Reginald
Fifty French-Canadian patients presenting with typical or atypical anginal pain were studied by selective cinearteriography and coronary sinus catheterization, with measurement of myocardial function, oxygen and lactate extraction at rest and during isoproterenol infusion. In 28 of 42 patients all three coronary arteries were involved, but angina pectoris also occurred in patients with single mildly stenotic arterial lesions and even in eight patients with normal cinearteriograms. All patients with severe arterial lesions had typical angina, and the longer the duration of angina, the greater the extent, usually, of anatomic disease. Seventy-nine percent of resting electrocardiograms of patients with documented coronary artery disease were abnormal, with recognizable prior infarction in 18. Two-thirds of the patients experiencing pain during the stressful state had abnormal ventricular function. An abnormal arteriovenous lactate difference in response to isoproterenol occurred in patients in all groups. PMID:5563346
Cannabis, collaterals, and coronary occlusion.
De Silva, Kalpa; Perera, Divaka
A 51-year-old gentleman, who regularly smoked cannabis, presented with chest pain and diaphoresis. He was haemodynamically stable. ECG showed ST depression, inferiorly, and 1 mm ST elevation in lead aVR. Emergent coronary angiography showed thrombotic occlusion of the left main coronary artery (LMCA), the dominant RCA provided Rentrop grade II collaterals to the LAD. The LMCA was successfully reopened by deployment of a bare-metal stent. Animal heart models suggest that endogenous cannibinoids may cause ischaemic preconditioning. This case suggests that the severity of ischaemia, and hence ECG changes and haemodynamic consequences following an acute occlusion of the LMCA, can be ameliorated by coronary collateralisation and possibly by preconditioning of the myocardium. PMID:24987532
Coronary stent technology: a narrative review.
Chen, Daniel; Jepson, Nigel
Coronary angioplasty and coronary artery stents have revolutionised interventional cardiology. Contemporary coronary stent technology continues to seek to improve on the outcomes of the preceding generation of devices by refining their design, structure and component materials. These technologies include new generations of drug-eluting stents, non-polymeric stents, bioresorbable polymer-coated stents, and fully bioresorbable scaffolds. This review discusses the evolution of coronary stent technology, the efficacy and safety of currently available devices, and the rationale for new generation platforms as efforts continue to design the ideal coronary stent technology. PMID:27627940
Distal coronary artery perfusion during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
Anderson, H V; Leimgruber, P P; Roubin, G S; Nelson, D L; Gruentzig, A R
Perfusion of the coronary artery distal to an occluding angioplasty balloon was performed in 34 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty (PTCA). A randomized crossover study was employed using two exogenous substances as perfusates: lactated Ringer's solution (LR) and a fluorocarbon emulsion (FL), Fluosol-DA 20%. Both substances are electrolyte solutions, but the FL will dissolve more oxygen than the LR. During two attempted coronary artery occlusions of 90 seconds each, we perfused through the central lumen (guidewire channel) of the PTCA catheter at 60 ml/min. With FL perfusion the mean time to onset of angina after occlusion was delayed (41 +/- 21 vs 33 +/- 16 seconds, mean +/- SD; p less than 0.05), the mean duration of angina was shortened (77 +/- 58 vs 92 +/- 70 seconds, p less than 0.05), and the rise in the ST segment of the ECG was reduced (0.15 +/- 0.24 vs 0.2 +/- 0.23 mV, p less than 0.001) when compared to LR perfusion. Balloon occlusion time was able to be extended with FL perfusion (71 +/- 22 vs 59 +/- 22 seconds p less than 0.001). These results indicate that perfusion of the distal coronary artery is possible during PTCA and can reduce ischemia during a prolonged balloon occlusion time. PMID:2931968
Complicated unroofed coronary sinus syndrome.
Sarwar, Ghulam; Ahmed, Bilal; Suleman, Naeem; Khan, Ghufranullah
A young boy planned for the surgical closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) and mitral valve regurgitation (MR) was found peroperatively as having a complete unroofed coronary sinus (URCS). Intracardiac re-routing of left superior vena cava (LSVC) and mitral valve replacement (MVR) were performed concomitantly with success. PMID:15808100
Coronary slow flow and acute coronary syndrome in a patient with spinal cord injury.
Aktoz, Meryem; Tatli, Ersan; Barutcu, Ahmet; Ozkalayci, Flora; Umit, Elif; Altun, Armagan
We report the case of a 55-year-old man who presented with acute coronary syndrome due to coronary slow flow after spinal cord injury. Data regarding the causes and clinical manifestations of coronary slow flow are inconclusive, but the autonomic nervous system is believed to be at least a contributing factor. The predominant vagal activity causes vasodilation and hemostasis, which can lead to acute coronary syndrome. We hereby call attention to hyperactive parasympathetic tonicity, which can lead to coronary slow flow and acute coronary syndrome in acute spinal cord injury patients. PMID:21841878
Perspectives on acute coronary syndromes.
Théroux, Pierre
The occurrence of an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) represents a dramatic stage in the otherwise relatively slow and progressive course of coronary artery disease, bringing into perspective its life-threatening implications. The modern era of aggressive management of these syndromes was first introduced by the establishment of the coronary care unit, and later by the development of reperfusion therapies, which led, within two decades, to a reduction in death rates of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction from 30% or more to less than 10%. The insights gained into the pathophysiology of ACSs, combined with increasingly efficient risk stratification schemes in screening patients with non-ST segment ACS, have given a boost to the development of antithrombotic therapies. Acetylsalicylic acid, as well as the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and heparin with the addition of an intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonist and/or the addition of an ADP P2Y12 receptor blocker, when combined with an invasive strategy targeting revascularization of the culprit coronary lesion (when appropriate), have successfully reduced the rates of adverse clinical outcomes in non-ST segment elevation ACS from 25% to 10%. These rates, however, did not improve further during the past few years, while the number of such patients is increasing to now account for the majority of admissions to coronary care units. A new research focus in cardiology is emerging, following the discovery that culprit lesions may be multiple and multifocal in association with a more diffuse inflammatory state. New therapeutic frontiers are thus being suggested to control the most fundamental mechanisms involved in ACSs and related to inflammation and autoimmunity. PMID:16234889
Intraoperative angiography after coronary bypass grafting in a patient presenting with a single coronary artery: a case report.
Bigdeli, Amir K; Kilian, Eckehard; Beiras-Fernandez, Andres; Vogt, Ferdinand; Reichart, Bruno; Kur, Felix
Among coronary artery anomalies, single coronary artery is one of the rarest anomalies. Pulmonary origins of the coronary arteries, coronary artery fistulae, and anomalous aortic origins of the coronary arteries are the most common anomalies requiring surgical intervention. In this case, we describe the performance of bypass grafting after unsuccessful attempts at percutaneous coronary intervention in a 72-year old male patient with single coronary artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva and with associated diffuse coronary atherosclerosis. Intraoperative angiography was performed to evaluate the revascularization of this anomalous coronary system. The patient remains symptom free 6 months after the operation.
Revascularization therapy for coronary artery disease. Coronary artery bypass grafting versus percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
Wilson, J M; Ferguson, J J
Coronary artery bypass surgery relieves the symptoms of myocardial ischemia and prolongs survival of patients with more severe coronary artery disease. Randomized trials of surgical therapy have consistently shown that the benefits of surgical revascularization are proportional to the amount of myocardium affected by, or at risk for, ischemic injury. This risk is inferred from angiographically delineated coronary anatomy, estimates of left ventricular function, and physiologic testing. The population that may see a survival benefit from surgical revascularization has probably been expanded beyond that reported in the VA, CASS, and ECSS trials, due to improved perioperative care, longer graft survival, and the use of internal mammary artery grafts. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty revascularizes myocardium by dilating a stenotic segment of coronary artery. While successful in relieving the symptoms of myocardial ischemia, PTCA is hindered by the occurrence of abrupt vessel closure and the frequent development of restenosis. Furthermore, firm proof of a survival benefit, outside of emergency therapy for acute myocardial infarction, is not yet available. However, because the risk of procedure-related death or serious complication is lower than that seen with bypass surgery, PTCA provides a useful alternative revascularization method for patients with less extensive disease, in whom the risk of surgery may equal or exceed any beneficial effect. New technology and growing experience are widening the scope of percutaneous revascularization by extending the hope of symptomatic relief and survival benefit even to patients with extensive, severe coronary artery disease. Comparisons between surgical therapy and PTCA in select populations with single- and multivessel coronary artery disease have shown that PTCA is not as effective as surgery for long-term symptomatic control, and that it often requires repeat PTCA or cross-over to bypass surgery; however, long
Coronary Artery Disease | Coronary Artery Disease | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine
... this page please turn Javascript on. Feature: Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Artery Disease Past Issues / Fall 2010 Table of Contents ... exercise routine produced a strong heart!" Fast Facts Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood ...
Diagnosis and therapy of coronary artery disease: Second edition
Cohn, P.F.
This book contains 18 selections. Some of the titles are: Nuclear cardiology; Diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction; Therapy of angina pectoris; Psychosocial aspects of coronary artery disease; Nonatherosclerotic coronary artery disease; and The epidemiology of coronary artery disease.
Successful percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion of right coronary artery in patient with dextrocardia.
Munawar, Muhammad; Hartono, Beny; Iskandarsyah, Kurniawan; Nguyen, Thach N
Situs inversus with dextrocardia is rare congenital anomaly. Coronary artery disease in such patients is quite rare. We reported a 52-year-old man with dextrocardia and chronic total occlusion at the proximal right coronary artery just after conus branch and severe stenosis at the proximal left anterior descending artery. He underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting of total occluded right coronary artery and simultaneously stenting of the proximal left anterior descending artery.
Noninvasive diagnosis of vulnerable coronary plaque
Pozo, Eduardo; Agudo-Quilez, Pilar; Rojas-González, Antonio; Alvarado, Teresa; Olivera, María José; Jiménez-Borreguero, Luis Jesús; Alfonso, Fernando
Myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death are frequently the first manifestation of coronary artery disease. For this reason, screening of asymptomatic coronary atherosclerosis has become an attractive field of research in cardiovascular medicine. Necropsy studies have described histopathological changes associated with the development of acute coronary events. In this regard, thin-cap fibroatheroma has been identified as the main vulnerable coronary plaque feature. Hence, many imaging techniques, such as coronary computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance or positron emission tomography, have tried to detect noninvasively these histomorphological characteristics with different approaches. In this article, we review the role of these diagnostic tools in the detection of vulnerable coronary plaque with particular interest in their advantages and limitations as well as the clinical implications of the derived findings. PMID:27721935
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection with Cardiac Tamponade.
Goh, Anne C H; Lundstrom, Robert J
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary syndrome. Clinical presentation ranges from chest pain alone to ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, ventricular fibrillation, and sudden death. The treatment of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection is challenging because the disease pathophysiology is unclear, optimal treatment is unknown, and short- and long-term prognostic data are minimal. We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with an acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction secondary to a spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending coronary artery. She was treated conservatively. Cardiac tamponade developed 16 hours after presentation. Repeat coronary angiography revealed extension of the dissection. Medical therapy was continued after the hemopericardium was aspirated. The patient remained asymptomatic 3 years after hospital discharge. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in association with cardiac tamponade that was treated conservatively and had a successful outcome. PMID:26504447
Coronary artery disease in the military patient.
Parsons, Iain; White, S; Gill, R; Gray, H H; Rees, P
Ischaemic heart disease is the most common cause of sudden death in the UK, and the most common cardiac cause of medical discharge from the Armed Forces. This paper reviews current evidence pertaining to the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease from a military perspective, encompassing stable angina and acute coronary syndromes. Emphasis is placed on the limitations inherent in the management of acute coronary syndromes in the deployed environment. Occupational issues affecting patients with coronary artery disease are reviewed. Consideration is also given to the potential for coronary artery disease screening in the military, and the management of modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors, to help decrease the prevalence of coronary artery disease in the military population. PMID:26246347
Coronary Artery Manifestations of Fibromuscular Dysplasia
Michelis, Katherine C.; Olin, Jeffrey W.; Kadian-Dodov, Daniella; d'Escamard, Valentina; Kovacic, Jason C.
Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) involving the coronary arteries is an uncommon but important condition that can present as acute coronary syndrome, left ventricular dysfunction, or potentially sudden cardiac death. Although the classic angiographic "string of beads" that may be observed in renal artery FMD does not occur in coronary arteries, potential manifestations include spontaneous coronary artery dissection, distal tapering or long, smooth narrowing that may represent dissection, intramural hematoma, spasm, or tortuosity. Importantly, FMD must be identified in at least one other noncoronary arterial territory to attribute any coronary findings to FMD. Although there is limited evidence to guide treatment, many lesions heal spontaneously; thus, a conservative approach is generally preferred. The etiology is poorly understood, but there are ongoing efforts to better characterize FMD and define its genetic and molecular basis. This report reviews the clinical course of FMD involving the coronary arteries and provides guidance for diagnosis and treatment strategies. PMID:25190240
Coronary artery manifestations of fibromuscular dysplasia.
Michelis, Katherine C; Olin, Jeffrey W; Kadian-Dodov, Daniella; d'Escamard, Valentina; Kovacic, Jason C
Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) involving the coronary arteries is an uncommon but important condition that can present as acute coronary syndrome, left ventricular dysfunction, or potentially sudden cardiac death. Although the classic angiographic "string of beads" that may be observed in renal artery FMD does not occur in coronary arteries, potential manifestations include spontaneous coronary artery dissection, distal tapering or long, smooth narrowing that may represent dissection, intramural hematoma, spasm, or tortuosity. Importantly, FMD must be identified in at least one other noncoronary arterial territory to attribute any coronary findings to FMD. Although there is limited evidence to guide treatment, many lesions heal spontaneously; thus, a conservative approach is generally preferred. The etiology is poorly understood, but there are ongoing efforts to better characterize FMD and define its genetic and molecular basis. This report reviews the clinical course of FMD involving the coronary arteries and provides guidance for diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Radiation dose measurements in coronary CT angiography
Sabarudin, Akmal; Sun, Zhonghua
Coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography is associated with high radiation dose and this has raised serious concerns in the literature. Awareness of various parameters for dose estimates and measurements of coronary CT angiography plays an important role in increasing our understanding of the radiation exposure to patients, thus, contributing to the implementation of dose-saving strategies. This article provides an overview of the radiation dose quantity and its measurement during coronary CT angiography procedures. PMID:24392190
Intraoperative coronary artery dissection in fibromuscular dysplasia.
Lou, Xiaoying; Mitter, Sumeet S; Blair, John E; Benzuly, Keith; Gambardella, Ivancarmine; Malaisrie, S Chris
A 61-year-old woman with bicuspid aortic stenosis, an ascending aortic aneurysm, and a remote history of renal fibromuscular dysplasia underwent aortic root replacement complicated by extensive dissection of the left circumflex artery extending retrograde into the left anterior descending artery. This was managed by coronary artery bypass grafting, left ventricular support, and percutaneous coronary intervention for propagation of the dissection. This case highlights the prevalence, diagnosis, and management of intraoperative coronary dissection secondary to fibromuscular dysplasia. PMID:25841833
Behavior patterns and coronary heart disease
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Townsend, J. C.; Cronin, J. P.
The relationships between two behavioral patterns, cardiac risk factors, and coronary heart disease are investigated. Risk factors used in the analysis were family history of coronary disease, smoking, cholesterol, obesity, systotic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood sugar, uric acid, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and white blood unit. It was found that conventional, non-behavioral pattern risk factors alone were not significantly related to coronary heart disease.
Robotic coronary artery bypass grafting.
Folliguet, Thierry A; Dibie, Alain; Philippe, François; Larrazet, Fabrice; Slama, Michel S; Laborde, François
Robotically assisted surgery enables coronary surgery to be performed totally or partially endoscopically. Using the Da Vinci robotic technology allows minimally invasive treatments. We report on our experience with coronary artery surgery in our department: patients requiring single or double vessel surgical revascularization were eligible. The procedure was performed without cardiopulmonary bypass on a beating heart. From April 2004 to May 2008, 55 consecutive patients were enrolled in the study, and were operated on by a single surgical team. Operative outcomes included operative time, estimated blood loss, transfusions, ventilation time, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay. Average operative time was 270 ± 101 min with an estimated blood loss of 509 ± 328 ml, a postoperative ventilation time of 6 ± 12 h, ICU stay of 52 ± 23 h, and a hospital stay of 7 ± 3 days. Nine patients (16%) were converted to open techniques, and transfusion was required in four patients (7%). Follow-up was complete for all patients up to 1 year. There was one hospital death (1.7%) and two deaths at follow-up. Coronary anastomosis was controlled in 48 patients by either angiogram or computed tomography scan, revealing occlusion or anastomotic stenoses (>50%) in six patients. Overall permeability was 92%. Major adverse events occurred in 12 patients (21%). One-year survival was 96%. Our initial experience with robotically assisted coronary surgery is promising: it avoids sternotomy and with a methodical approach we were able to implement the procedure safely and effectively in our practice, combining minimal mortality with excellent survival. PMID:27627952
[Bile acids in coronary arteriosclerosis].
Malaia, L T; Shelest, A N; Volkov, V I; Cherevatov, B G
Seventy-six patients with chronic coronary heart disease of the atherosclerotic genesis were examined using clinical laboratory and instrumental research methods. The blood serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipoproteins and bile acids were measured throughout the course of treatment. When hyperlipoproteinemias were divided according to phenotypes, type II hyperlipoproteinemia proved to be most commonly occurring (65.8%). The patients exhibited lower blood serum levels of bile acids as compared to control.
Relationship between myocardial bridging and coronary arteriosclerosis.
Sun, Jian Ling; Huang, Wei Min; Guo, Ji Hong; Li, Xiao Ying; Ma, Xian Lin; Wang, Chong Yu
The objective of the study was to explore the prevalence and characteristics of myocardial bridging in patients who underwent coronary angiography and to also evaluate the correlation between bridged coronary segments and atherosclerosis. For this purpose, clinical materials of 1,500 patients who had received coronary angiography were retrospectively analyzed. The location and length of the myocardial bridge were recorded as well as the extent and location of coronary artery stenosis was described. Segments proximal and distal to the bridging were evaluated for coronary arteriosclerosis as were the remaining coronary segments. We found that myocardial bridging was present in 179 (11.9 %) patients. Bridges were frequently (84.9 %) localized in the mid-distal segment of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Myocardial bridging was not considered a significant risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis (odds ratio 0.58) compared with traditional cardiovascular risk factors. The incidence of coronary arteriosclerosis in the distal segments was significantly less affected than the proximal segments (P < 0.01). It was, therefore, concluded that myocardial bridging frequently localized in the mid-distal segment of the LAD artery. The presence of myocardial bridging promotes proximal atherosclerosis but it is not an additional risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis. PMID:23076634
Cardiac CT: atherosclerosis to acute coronary syndrome
Munnur, Ravi Kiran; Cameron, James D.; Ko, Brian S.; Meredith, Ian T.
Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is a robust non-invasive method to assess coronary artery disease (CAD). Qualitative and quantitative assessment of atherosclerotic coronary stenosis with CCTA has been favourably compared with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Importantly, it allows the study of preclinical stages of atherosclerotic disease, may help improve risk stratification and monitor the progressive course of the disease. The diagnostic accuracy of CCTA in the assessment of coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) is excellent and the constantly improving technology is making the evaluation of stents feasible. Novel techniques are being developed to assess the functional significance of coronary stenosis. The excellent negative predictive value of CCTA in ruling out disease enables early and safe discharge of patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the Emergency Department (ED). In addition, CCTA is useful in predicting clinical outcomes based on the extent of coronary atherosclerosis and also based on individual plaque characteristics such as low attenuation plaque (LAP), positive remodelling and spotty calcification. In this article, we review the role of CCTA in the detection of coronary atherosclerosis in native vessels, stented vessels, calcified arteries and grafts; the assessment of plaque progression, evaluation of chest pain in the ED, assessment of functional significance of stenosis and the prognostic significance of CCTA. PMID:25610801
Coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus.
Aronson, Doron; Edelman, Elazer R
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Near-normal glycemic control does not reduce cardiovascular events. For many patients with 1- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease, there is little benefit from any revascularization procedure over optimal medical therapy. For multivessel coronary disease, randomized trials demonstrated the superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting over multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with treated DM. However, selection of the optimal myocardial revascularization strategy requires a multidisciplinary team approach ('heart team'). This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of various medical therapies and revascularization strategies in patients with DM. PMID:25091969
Coronary Artery Disease and Diabetes Mellitus.
Aronson, Doron; Edelman, Elazer R
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Near-normal glycemic control does not reduce cardiovascular events. For many patients with 1- or 2-vessel coronary artery disease, there is little benefit from any revascularization procedure over optimal medical therapy. For multivessel coronary disease, randomized trials demonstrated the superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting over multivessel percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with treated DM. However, selection of the optimal myocardial revascularization strategy requires a multidisciplinary team approach ('heart team'). This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the effectiveness of various medical therapies and revascularization strategies in patients with DM. PMID:26567979
Exertion and acute coronary artery injury.
Black, A; Black, M M; Gensini, G
Twelve cases of myocardial infarction as related to strenuous exertion are presented with the pathological findings in several of these cases. Three cases with coronary arteriography are also presented. The pathology of coronary arteriosclerotic plaques and the vulnerability to acute injury is reviewed and discussed. It is concluded that strenuous exertion can cause acute injury to coronary artery plaques due to the unusual stressful whip-like action to which coronary arteries are subject. These injuries may initiate as cracks in the plaques or subintimal hemorrhages and proceed to coronary occlusion and ultimate myocardial infarction. With this concept in mind we use the term of "crack in the plaque" (Black's Crack in the Plaque) to account for the sudden appearance of clinical coronary artery disease appearing during or shortly after exertion, or other stressful situations in patients without previous existing evidence of clinical coronary artery disease. This could also account for exacerbation of symptoms or death occurring after exertion in previously quiescent asymptomatic known coronary artery disease subjects. This concept may explain some of the puzzling features of coronary disease.
Coronary Sinus to Left Atrial Communication
Scheller, Vandhana; Mazur, Wojciech; Kong, James; Chung, Eugene S.
Congenital coronary sinus anomalies are rare in clinical practice, partly due to the lack of symptoms. We present a case of coronary sinus anomaly causing a right-to-left intracardiac shunt in a 46 years/old African American female with a past medical history of obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and ischemic cardiomyopathy who presented with hypoxia. In the months prior to her presentation, she had suffered an inferior myocardial infarction with right ventricular involvement, as well as resulting severe tricuspid regurgitation. In conclusion, further investigations revealed a communication between the coronary sinus (CS) and left atrium (LA). PMID:19730747
Coronary artery calcium score: has anything changed?
Marano, R; Bonomo, L
Calcium deposition along the coronary artery walls is a surrogate biomarker for atherosclerosis, and its presence in the coronary arteries could reflect the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) High coronary artery calcium score (CACS) correlates with advanced disease and a higher likelihood of coronary stenoses. Many studies have supported the role of CACS as a screening tool for CAD. Historically, CACS was introduced with electron beam computed tomography (EBCT), but in the last 30 years, many changes have occurred in CT, where the development of multidetector spiral technology has made reliable the noninvasive study of the heart and coronary arteries. Correlation studies with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and histology have demonstrated the capability of multidetector CT (MDCT) to provide information useful for characterising atherosclerotic plaque in a noninvasive manner. This has shifted the interest from heavily calcified deposits to plaque with a low-density core and small, superficial calcified nodules, features more frequently present in atherosclerotic plaque prone to rupture and responsible for acute coronary events (culprit lesions). The purpose of this review article is to summarise the recent evolution and revolution in the field of CT, strengthen the importance of a coronary CT study not limited to CACS evaluation and CAD grading but also used to obtain information about plaque composition, and to improve stratification of the patient at risk for acute coronary events. PMID:17952374
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction in a pediatric patient with giant coronary aneurysm due to Kawasaki disease.
Mongiovì, Maurizio; Alaimo, Annalisa; Vernuccio, Federica; Pieri, Daniele
We report a case of acute myocardial infarction in an 8-year-old boy with a history of Kawasaki disease and giant coronary aneurysms in the right and left coronary arteries. We performed coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention 4 hours after the onset of symptoms. This case suggests that primary percutaneous coronary intervention might be safe and effective in the long-term treatment of acute myocardial infarction due to coronary sequelae of Kawasaki.
Huge aneurysm and coronary-cameral fistula from right coronary branch: First case.
Ahmad, Tanveer; Pasarad, Ashwini Kumar; Kishore, Kolkebaile Sadanand; Maheshwarappa, Nandakumar Neralakere
Coronary-cameral fistulas are rare cardiovascular anomalies. A giant coronary artery aneurysm associated with a coronary-cameral fistula is a very rare condition, with an estimated prevalence of 0.02%. We report the case of middle-aged woman who presented with a huge extracardiac aneurysmal mass and a coronary-cameral fistula from a right coronary artery branch. It was successfully repaired by ligation and excision plus marsupialization of the aneurysm. We believe this is the first such a case reported in literature.
Arterial and venous coronary pressure-flow relations in anesthetized dogs. Evidence for a vascular waterfall in epicardial coronary veins.
Uhlig, P N; Baer, R W; Vlahakes, G J; Hanley, F L; Messina, L M; Hoffman, J I
The coronary circulation of anesthetized dogs was tested for the presence of vascular waterfalls by manipulating coronary arterial and coronary venous pressures. The left main coronary artery and the coronary sinus were cannulated, and relationships between coronary artery pressure, coronary sinus pressure, and coronary flow were studied. Experiments were conducted during diastolic arrests, under steady state conditions, in the absence of autoregulation. Relations of coronary flow to coronary sinus pressure at constant coronary artery pressure were consistent with the presence of a vascular waterfall in the coronary sinus. When the great cardiac vein was cannulated, relations of great vein flow to great vein pressure at constant coronary artery pressure were consistent with the presence of a vascular waterfall in the great vein, indicating that waterfall behavior can occur in epicardial veins other than the coronary sinus. In dogs on right heart bypass, with the coronary sinus and great vein uncannulated, the relationship between right atrial pressure and coronary sinus pressure showed a waterfall pattern, indicating that the waterfall is not an artifact of venous cannulation. In the right heart bypass experiments, venous waterfall behavior was seen in beating hearts as well as during diastolic arrests. We conclude that a vascular waterfall is present in epicardial coronary veins which can significantly influence coronary blood flow. PMID:6611215
Arterial and venous coronary pressure-flow relations in anesthetized dogs. Evidence for a vascular waterfall in epicardial coronary veins.
Uhlig, P N; Baer, R W; Vlahakes, G J; Hanley, F L; Messina, L M; Hoffman, J I
The coronary circulation of anesthetized dogs was tested for the presence of vascular waterfalls by manipulating coronary arterial and coronary venous pressures. The left main coronary artery and the coronary sinus were cannulated, and relationships between coronary artery pressure, coronary sinus pressure, and coronary flow were studied. Experiments were conducted during diastolic arrests, under steady state conditions, in the absence of autoregulation. Relations of coronary flow to coronary sinus pressure at constant coronary artery pressure were consistent with the presence of a vascular waterfall in the coronary sinus. When the great cardiac vein was cannulated, relations of great vein flow to great vein pressure at constant coronary artery pressure were consistent with the presence of a vascular waterfall in the great vein, indicating that waterfall behavior can occur in epicardial veins other than the coronary sinus. In dogs on right heart bypass, with the coronary sinus and great vein uncannulated, the relationship between right atrial pressure and coronary sinus pressure showed a waterfall pattern, indicating that the waterfall is not an artifact of venous cannulation. In the right heart bypass experiments, venous waterfall behavior was seen in beating hearts as well as during diastolic arrests. We conclude that a vascular waterfall is present in epicardial coronary veins which can significantly influence coronary blood flow.
Spontaneous left main dissection treated by percutaneous coronary intervention.
Sousa, Alexandra; Lopes, Ricardo; Silva, João Carlos; Maciel, M Júlia
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute coronary events or sudden cardiac death. The clinical presentation is highly variable and prognosis varies widely, depending mainly on how rapidly it is diagnosed. Prompt treatment is also essential, and includes medical management, percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical revascularization. We describe the case of a young woman presenting with spontaneous coronary artery dissection of the left main coronary artery, first diagnosed as coronary thrombus, who underwent successful percutaneous coronary stenting. This report highlights the need to include spontaneous coronary artery dissection in differential diagnosis of chest pain in young women and that distinguishing between coronary thrombus and coronary artery dissection is not always straightforward. To our knowledge this is the fourth case of left main stenting in a patient with spontaneous coronary artery dissection described in the literature.
[Pediatric case of congenital coronary artery fistula; surgical result and late changes in coronary artery aneurysm].
Sugawara, Masaaki; Oguma, Fumiaki; Hirahara, Hiroyuki
Congenital coronary artery fistula is an uncommon heart anomaly involving the coronary arteries. We report here a case of a 4-year-old boy who had a coronary fistula from the right coronary artery to the right ventricle, with a coronary aneurysm. He was asymptomatic, but the calculated ratio of pulmonary blood flow to systemic blood flow was shown to be high [pulmonary flow (Qp)/systemic flow(Qs)=1.78]. The coronary angiography showed that the right coronary artery was dilated beginning at the ostium and had an aneurysm at the acute marginal portion. A large spherical aneurysm approximately 20 mm in diameter was found to have been connected with coronary fistula opening into the right ventricle. Surgical repair by closure of the fistula under direct vision, partial resection and suture closure of the aneurysm was performed. Plication of the proximal portion of the right coronary artery was not performed, and the diffusely dilated artery was left untouched. After this operation, he recovered well under anticoagulant treatment with warfarin and aspirin. Postoperative angiography was performed 17 months after the surgery to evaluate morphological changes in the coronary artery. The angiography confirmed the closure of the fistula and the regression of coronary artery dilatation.
Coronary artery stenting for spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a case report and review of the literature.
Vale, P R; Baron, D W
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an uncommon cause of acute coronary syndromes. It occurs in three major groups: in young women in the peripartum period, in patients with atherosclerotic disease, and in an idiopathic group. There are a number of associated conditions, but the pathogenesis remains unclear. Diagnosis can only be made at angiography. Treatments include medical therapy, coronary artery bypass grafts, and newer interventional procedures. We report on a case of spontaneous coronary artery dissection involving the left circumflex artery in a young adult male presenting with a myocardial infarction after exercise. There were no risk factors for coronary artery disease and no evidence of atherosclerosis on angiography. The dissection was treated with primary coronary artery stenting without predilation, achieving an excellent result. To our knowledge, this is the third known case of successful coronary artery stenting for this condition and the first case of primary stenting without prior angioplasty.
ABSORB: Postmarketing Surveillance Registry to Monitor the Everolimus-eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Cardiovascular Diseases; Coronary Artery Disease; Myocardial Ischemia; Coronary Disease; Coronary Restenosis; Heart Diseases; Coronary Stenosis; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases; Vascular Diseases
Isolated single coronary artery presenting as acute coronary syndrome: case report and review.
Mahapatro, Anil K; Patro, A Sarat K; Sujatha, Vipperala; Sinha, Sudhir C
Congenital single coronary artery is commonly associated with complex congenital heart diseases and manifests in infancy or childhood. But isolated single coronary artery is a rare congenital anomaly which can present as acute coronary syndrome in adults. The aim of the work is to discuss on isolated single coronary artery in two adults presenting as acute coronary syndrome. The first case underwent coronary angiography (CAG) through right radial route, but switched over to femoral for confirmation of diagnosis and due to radial spasm. An aortic root angiogram was done to rule out presence of any other coronary ostia. It revealed a single coronary artery originating from right sinus of valsalva. After giving rise to posterior descending artery branch at crux, it continued in the atrioventricular groove to the anterior basal surface of the heart and traversed as anterior descending artery. There was no atheromatous occlusive stenosis. This is R-I type single coronary artery as per Lipton classification. In the second case, angiography was completed through right radial route. It revealed a single coronary artery arising from right aortic sinus. Anterior descending and circumflex branch were originating from proximal common trunk of the single coronary artery and supplying the left side of the heart. The right coronary artery has diffuse atheromatous disease without significant stenosis in any major branch. This is R-III C type as per Lipton classification. A coronary anomaly of both origin and course is very rare. It may be encountered in adults evaluated for atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Knowledge and understanding of anatomical types of this congenital anomaly will reduce time, anxiety, complications during CAG and cardiac surgery. PMID:25075168
Experiments On Flow In A Coronary Artery
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Back, Lloyd H.; Kwack, Eug-Yon; Liem, Timothy K.; Crawford, Donald W.
Report describes experiments on simulated flow of blood in atherosclerotic human coronary artery. Experiments performed on polyurethane cast made from S-shaped coronary artery of cadaver. Sucrose solution with viscosity of blood pumped through cast at physiologically realistic rates, and flow made pulsatile by mechanism alternately compressing and releasing elastic tube just upstream of cast.
[Coronary revascularization by arterial bypasses: advantages, disadvantages].
Bical, O; Deleuze, P; Sousa Uva, M
Coronary vein grafts are frequently become occluded or develop atherosclerotic lesions in the long-term. In contrast, the internal mammary artery has a very satisfactory long-term patency rate. The use of an internal mammary artery on the LAD consequently increases the benefit of coronary surgery. The benefit of using 2 internal mammary arteries or other arterial grafts for coronary artery bypass surgery is more controversial. The advantages and disadvantages of the various coronary artery grafts are reported together with the clinical experience of several teams in this area. Coronary artery surgery should be reserved to patients with a good general condition, who are likely to benefit from this type of revascularization. The right internal mammary artery is unsuitable for revascularization of the right coronary network and the two internal mammary arteries must be used to revascularize the left coronary network, in order to obtain a good result. However, surgeons must be aware of the limitations of coronary artery surgery and these techniques should be used cautiously.
Coronary artery dissection after blunt chest trauma
Shamsi, Fahad; Tai, Javed Majid; Bokhari, Saira
Blunt thoracic trauma may result in cardiac injuries ranging from simple arrhythmias to fatal cardiac rupture. Coronary artery dissection culminating in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is rare after blunt chest trauma. Here we report a case of a 37-year-old man who had an AMI secondary to coronary dissection resulting from blunt chest trauma after involvement in a physical fight. PMID:25246456
Pregnancy in women after coronary revascularization
Cox, David; Smolinski, William J; Maksimik, Crystal A; Coassolo, Kara M; Freudenberger, Ronald
Pregnancy after coronary revascularization presents unique challenges to the management of antiplatelet therapy, anesthesia and mode of delivery. We present two cases where women of reproductive age required coronary revascularization with drug eluting stents after a myocardial infarction, and discuss key aspects of pregnancy and labor management. PMID:27512447
Postpartum Coronary Vasospasm with Literature Review
Koneru, Jayanth; Alattar, Fadi; Alqaqa, Ashraf; Virk, Hirtaj; Shamoon, Fayez; Bikkina, Mahesh
Acute myocardial infarction during pregnancy or the postpartum period is rare. We report a case of a 39-year-old postpartum woman who developed non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction due to severe diffuse coronary vasospasm. To our knowledge, this is the first case of angiographically evidenced coronary vasospasm, in a postpartum woman, with resistance to intracoronary nitroglycerin. PMID:25105029
Coronary perforation: What color is your parachute?
Seto, Arnold H; Kern, Morton J
Coronary perforation is a rare but devastating complication of PCI, requiring rescue devices such as covered stents. This paper documents the successful use of a pericardial covered stent in 9/9 patients for coronary perforation. Pericardial covered stents have theoretical advantages over PTFE covered stents, but clinical studies proving this are not feasible. PMID:26276233
Coronary perforation: What color is your parachute?
Seto, Arnold H; Kern, Morton J
Coronary perforation is a rare but devastating complication of PCI, requiring rescue devices such as covered stents. This paper documents the successful use of a pericardial covered stent in 9/9 patients for coronary perforation. Pericardial covered stents have theoretical advantages over PTFE covered stents, but clinical studies proving this are not feasible.
Coronary CT angiography: Beyond morphological stenosis analysis.
Sun, Zhonghua
Rapid technological developments in computed tomography (CT) imaging technique have made coronary CT angiography an attractive imaging tool in the detection of coronary artery disease. Despite visualization of excellent anatomical details of the coronary lumen changes, coronary CT angiography does not provide hemodynamic changes caused by presence of plaques. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a widely used method in the mechanical engineering field to solve complex problems through analysing fluid flow, heat transfer and associated phenomena by using computer simulations. In recent years, CFD is increasingly used in biomedical research due to high performance hardware and software. CFD techniques have been used to study cardiovascular hemodynamics through simulation tools to assist in predicting the behaviour of circulatory blood flow inside the human body. Blood flow plays a key role in the localization and progression of coronary artery disease. CFD simulation based on 3D luminal reconstructions can be used to analyse the local flow fields and flow profiling due to changes of vascular geometry, thus, identifying risk factors for development of coronary artery disease. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the coronary CT-derived CFD applications in coronary artery disease.
Presence of anomalous coronary seen on angiogram is not associated with increased risk of significant coronary artery disease.
Suryanarayana, Prakash; Kollampare, Shubha; Riaz, Irbaz Bin; Lee, Justin; Husnain, Muhammad; Luni, Faraz Khan; Movahed, Mohammad Reza
It is unclear if anomalous coronary arteries are at higher risk for atherosclerosis. The link between anomalous coronary artery and early coronary artery disease has been suggested. The aim of this study is to determine whether the coronary artery anomaly predisposes to development of significant coronary disease. Using retrospective chart review, patients with documented anomalous coronary arteries recognized during coronary angiography between years 2000 to 2007 were analyzed. Prevalence of significant atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (defined as more than 50% luminal narrowing) was compared between normal and anomalous coronaries. A total of 147 patients with anomalous coronary arteries were found. Right coronary artery was the most common anomalous artery 128 of 148 (86.5%) in our dataset. There was no difference in the occurrence of atherosclerosis between anomalous and nonanomalous coronaries. Significant atherosclerosis was present in 59 of the 148 anomalous coronary arteries (37.8%), and 112 of the 293 nonanomalous coronary arteries (38.2%, p = 0.9). On the basis of our study, there is no evidence that anomalous coronary arteries predispose to significant coronary artery disease in comparison to normal coronary arteries.
Single Coronary Artery with Aortic Regurgitation
Katsetos, Manny C. Toce, Dale T.
An isolated single coronary artery can be associated with normal life expectancy; however, patients are at an increased risk of sudden death. A case is reported of a 54-year-old man with several months of chest pressure with activity. On exercise Sestamibi stress testing, the patient developed a hypotensive response with no symptoms and minimal electrocardiographic changes. Nuclear scanning demonstrated reversible septal and lateral perfusion defects consistent with severe ischemia. Coronary angiography revealed a single coronary artery with the right coronary artery arising from the left main. There were high-grade stenotic lesions in the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries with only moderate atherosclerotic disease in the right coronary artery. An aortogram showed 2-3+ aortic regurgitation, with an ejection fraction of 45% on ventriculography. The patient underwent four-vessel revascularization and aortic valve replacement and did well postoperatively.
Venous waterfalls in coronary circulation.
Gosselin, R E; Kaplow, S M
Several studies of flow through collapsible tubing deformed by external pressures have led to a concept known as the "vascular waterfall". One hallmark of this state is a positive zero-flow pressure intercept (Pe) in flow-pressure curves. This intercept is commonly observed in the coronary circulation, but in blood-perfused beating hearts a vascular waterfall is not the only putative cause. To restrict the possibilities, we have measured flow-pressure curves in excised non-beating rabbit hearts in which the coronary arteries were perfused in a non-pulsatile way with a newtonian fluid (Ringers solution) containing potent vasodilator drugs. Under these circumstances, vascular waterfalls are believed to be the only tenable explanation for Pe. In physical terms the waterfall is a region where the vessel is in a state of partial collapse with a stabilized intraluminal fluid pressure (Pw). It is argued that the most probable site of this collapse was the intramural veins just before they reached the epicardial surface. In accord with the waterfall hypothesis, Pe increased as the heart became more edematous, but flow-pressure curves also became flatter, implying multiple waterfalls with differing Pws, leading to complete collapse of some of the venous channels. The principal compressive force is believed to have been the interstitial fluid pressure as registered through a needle (Pn) implanted in the left ventricular wall, but a small additional force (Ps) was probably due to swelling of interstitial gels. A method is presented for estimating Ps and Pw. Unlike rubber tubing, blood vessels are both collapsible and porous. Apparently because of increased capillary filtration, Pn was found to increase linearly with the perfusion pressure. Thus, Pw was not the same at all points on the flow-pressure curve. This finding has interesting implications with respect to the concept of coronary resistance. PMID:2062096
Venous waterfalls in coronary circulation.
Gosselin, R E; Kaplow, S M
Several studies of flow through collapsible tubing deformed by external pressures have led to a concept known as the "vascular waterfall". One hallmark of this state is a positive zero-flow pressure intercept (Pe) in flow-pressure curves. This intercept is commonly observed in the coronary circulation, but in blood-perfused beating hearts a vascular waterfall is not the only putative cause. To restrict the possibilities, we have measured flow-pressure curves in excised non-beating rabbit hearts in which the coronary arteries were perfused in a non-pulsatile way with a newtonian fluid (Ringers solution) containing potent vasodilator drugs. Under these circumstances, vascular waterfalls are believed to be the only tenable explanation for Pe. In physical terms the waterfall is a region where the vessel is in a state of partial collapse with a stabilized intraluminal fluid pressure (Pw). It is argued that the most probable site of this collapse was the intramural veins just before they reached the epicardial surface. In accord with the waterfall hypothesis, Pe increased as the heart became more edematous, but flow-pressure curves also became flatter, implying multiple waterfalls with differing Pws, leading to complete collapse of some of the venous channels. The principal compressive force is believed to have been the interstitial fluid pressure as registered through a needle (Pn) implanted in the left ventricular wall, but a small additional force (Ps) was probably due to swelling of interstitial gels. A method is presented for estimating Ps and Pw. Unlike rubber tubing, blood vessels are both collapsible and porous. Apparently because of increased capillary filtration, Pn was found to increase linearly with the perfusion pressure. Thus, Pw was not the same at all points on the flow-pressure curve. This finding has interesting implications with respect to the concept of coronary resistance.
A case of coronary microfistula: A newborn microfistula.
Cerit, Levent; Gulsen, Kamil; Kemal, Hatice; Akpınar, Onur
Coronary artery fistula is an abnormal connection between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber, a great artery or the vena cava. Although coronary artery fistulas are known to be congenital malformations they might occur due to infection, trauma or may be iatrogenic. We present a case with acquired coronary microfistula, without any history of interventional procedure. PMID:27133334
Estimation of coronary reserve in left anterior descending and circumflex coronary arteries by regional thermodilution technique.
Kurita, A; Azorin, J; Granier, A; Bourassa, M G
The present study was attempted to determine whether a reduction in regional venous maximal coronary flow can indicate the presence of significant coronary stenosis. The great cardiac vein flow and the coronary sinus outflow were measured simultaneously in 8 open-chest dogs by a continuous thermodilution technique using a triple thermister catheter or two separate thermister catheters. The left anterior descending and circumflex coronary inflows were recorded using electromagnetic flow probes. Successive 70% coronary arterial stenosis maximal coronary flow and coronary reserve decreased significantly in the great cardiac vein and the coronary sinus. Significant correlations were found between the flows in the left anterior descending artery and in the great cardiac vein (r = 0.81) and between those in the circumflex artery and in the coronary sinus minus the great cardiac vein (r = 0.79) throughout the periods of preocclusion, occlusion and reactive hyperemic response. There were no significant changes in heart rate and hemodynamics. Using continuous thermodilution techniques, the inflows of the left anterior descending and the circumflex coronary arteries at a stenosis greater than 70% could be estimated from the changes in regional venous outflows.
Minimally Invasive Multivessel Coronary Surgery and Hybrid Coronary Revascularization: Can We Routinely Achieve Less Invasive Coronary Surgery?
Rodriguez, Maria; Ruel, Marc
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the gold standard in managing severe coronary artery disease. However, it is associated with prolonged recovery and potential complications, in part due to the invasiveness of the procedure. Less invasive CABG techniques attempt to improve the quality and quantity of life in the same way as surgical revascularization but with fewer complications. Minimally invasive coronary surgery (MICS) through a small thoracotomy allows for complete revascularization with good results in graft patency. Perioperative mortality is low, and there is decreased need for blood transfusion, lower surgical site infection rates, and an earlier return to full physical function. Hybrid coronary revascularization (HCR) attempts to combine the advantages of coronary artery bypass grafting with those of percutaneous coronary intervention. Several studies have shown that HCR provides better short-term outcomes with regard to decreased ventilation and ICU time, reduced need for blood transfusion, and shortened hospital stay. However, the rates for major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality are comparable to conventional CABG, except for patients with a high SYNTAX score who displayed increased mortality rates. There is also strong evidence of a higher need for repeat revascularization with HCR compared to CABG. Overall, MICS and HCR appear to be viable alternatives to conventional CABG, offering a less invasive approach to coronary revascularization, which may be especially beneficial to high-risk patients. This article discusses approaches that deliver the advantages of minimally invasive surgical revascularization that can be adapted by surgeons with minimal investment with regards to training and infrastructure. PMID:27127557
Behavioral perspectives in coronary care.
Geiger, W J
Thirty-eight patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit were interviewed to discover the natural history of their moods and to assess their level of understanding of their medical condition. A progression of moods from anxiety to denial to depression was noted. Only seven of 38 patients were found to have a good understanding of their illness. Several barriers to doctor-patient communication were identified, including patient's denial, patient's distractibility due to surroundings, patient's "wishfully hearing," doctor's unwarranted assumptions about the patient's understanding, doctor's overuse of medical terminology, and doctor's unawareness of patient's emotional state. Finally, four suggestions for improving total patient care in the Coronary Care Unit are proposed: (1) understand the natural history of patient mood and perceive where your patient is in the progression, (2) institute formal teaching on dealing with patients' moods for nursing and medical personnel, (3) be aware of, and deal with, the barriers to physician-patient communication, and (4) institute formal patient education programs to aid communication and understanding. PMID:1185129
Coronary risk factors in schoolchildren.
Boreham, C; Savage, J M; Primrose, D; Cran, G; Strain, J
Death rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Northern Ireland are among the highest in the world. However, no data have been available to test the hypothesis that the high prevalence of CHD is reflected by the risk status of the childhood population. A randomly selected 2% population sample of 1015 children aged 12 and 15 years was studied to obtain baseline information on blood pressure, lipid profile, cigarette smoking, family history, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and dietary fat intake. Using available criteria thresholds, 15-23% displayed increased blood pressure, 12-25% had unfavourable lipid profiles, and 18-34% were overfat. In 15 year old children, 16-21% admitted being regular smokers, 26-34% displayed poor cardiorespiratory fitness, and 24-29% reported little physical activity in the previous week. Dietary analysis revealed relatively low polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios and high mean fat intakes, accounting for approximately 40% total daily energy. Despite the exclusion of family history from the analysis, 16% of the older children exhibited three or more risk factors. These results justify major concern about the level of potential coronary risk in Northern Ireland schoolchildren. Broadly based primary prevention strategies aimed at children are essential if future adult CHD mortality is to be reduced.
Single coronary artery anomaly causing ischemic mitral insufficiency.
Ay, Yasin; Aydın, Cemalettin; Ay, Nuray Kahraman; Inan, Bekir; Başel, Halil; Zeybek, Rahmi
Single coronary artery anomaly is rarely seen, and although it can present with sudden death, chest pain, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure, it can also be asymptomatic. We describe the case of a 58-year-old man with single coronary artery anomaly in whom the coronary artery stemmed from the left coronary sinus and caused ischemic mitral insufficiency due to left anterior descending artery stenosis. He underwent successful mitral valve repair and coronary bypass. PMID:24771737
Acoustic detection of coronary artery disease.
Semmlow, John; Rahalkar, Ketaki
Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries to the heart (the coronary arteries) become blocked by deposition of plaque, depriving the heart of oxygen-bearing blood. This disease is arguably the most important fatal disease in industrialized countries, causing one-third to one-half of all deaths in persons between the ages of 35 and 64 in the United States. Despite the fact that early detection of CAD allows for successful and cost-effective treatment of the disease, only 20% of CAD cases are diagnosed prior to a heart attack. The development of a definitive, noninvasive test for detection of coronary blockages is one of the holy grails of diagnostic cardiology. One promising approach to detecting coronary blockages noninvasively is based on identifying acoustic signatures generated by turbulent blood flow through partially occluded coronary arteries. In fact, no other approach to the detection of CAD promises to be as inexpensive, simple to perform, and risk free as the acoustic-based approach. Although sounds associated with partially blocked arteries are easy to identify in more superficial vessels such as the carotids, sounds from coronary arteries are very faint and surrounded by noise such as the very loud valve sounds. To detect these very weak signals requires sophisticated signal processing techniques. This review describes the work that has been done in this area since the 1980s and discusses future directions that may fulfill the promise of the acoustic approach to detecting coronary artery disease.
Coronary Obstruction Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Ribeiro, Henrique Barbosa; Sarmento-Leite, Rogério; Siqueira, Dimytri A. A.; Carvalho, Luiz Antônio; Mangione, José Armando; Rodés-Cabau, Josep; Perin, Marco A.; de Brito, Fábio Sandoli
Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was established as an important alternative for high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, there are few data in the literature regarding coronary obstruction, that although rare, is a potentially fatal complication. Objective Evaluate this complication in Brazil. Methods We evaluated all patients presenting coronary obstruction from the Brazilian Registry of TAVI. Main baseline and procedural characteristics, management of the complication, and clinical outcomes were collected from all patients. Results From 418 consecutive TAVI procedures, coronary obstruction occurred in 3 cases (incidence of 0.72%). All patients were women, without prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and with mean age of 85 ± 3 years, logistic EuroSCORE of 15 ± 6% and STS-PROM score of 9 ± 4%. All of the cases were performed with balloon-expandable Sapien XT prosthesis. In one patient, with pre-procedural computed tomography data, coronary arteries presented a low height and a narrow sinus of Valsalva. All patients presented with clinically significant severe maintained hypotension, immediately after valve implantation, and even though coronary angioplasty with stent implantation was successfully performed in all cases, patients died during hospitalization, being two periprocedurally. Conclusion Coronary obstruction following TAVI is a rare but potentially fatal complication, being more frequent in women and with the balloon-expandable prosthesis. Anatomical factors might be related with its increased occurrence, highlighting the importance of a good pre-procedural evaluation of the patients in order to avoid this severe complication. PMID:24652089
Syphilitic Coronary Artery Ostial Stenosis Resulting in Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated by Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Nakazone, Marcelo A.; Machado, Maurício N.; Barbosa, Raphael B.; Santos, Márcio A.; Maia, Lilia N.
Cardiovascular abnormalities are well-known manifestations of tertiary syphilis infections which although not frequent, are still causes of morbidity and mortality. A less common manifestation of syphilitic aortitis is coronary artery ostial narrowing related to aortic wall thickening. We report a case of a 46-year-old male admitted due to acute anterior ST elevation myocardial infarction submitted to primary percutaneous coronary intervention successfully. Coronary angiography showed a suboccluded ostial lesion of left main coronary artery. VDRL was titrated to 1/512. The patient was discharged with treatment including benzathine penicillin. Previous case reports of acute myocardial infarction in association with syphilitic coronary artery ostial stenosis have been reported, but the fact that the patient was treated by percutaneous coronary intervention is unique in this case. PMID:21052501
Diffuse coronary artery ectasia in a patient with left main coronary artery trifurcation
Desperak, Piotr; Bujak, Kamil; Głowacki, Jan; Gąsior, Mariusz
The term coronary ectasia is reserved to describe a diffuse dilatation of coronary artery segments that have a diameter that exceeds the size of normal adjacent coronary segments by 1.5 times. The occurrence of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) ranges from 3% to 8% in the group of patients undergoing coronary computed tomography angiography. The CAE is associated with traditional risk factors and often co-exists with coronary atherosclerosis, which suggests that ectasia may represent an advanced form of atherosclerosis. Nevertheless, there is a lack of consensus on the clinical implications and management of patients in whom the occurrence of CAE is observed, especially in patients without concomitant obstructive atherosclerosis. Here, we present a rare case of a 62-year-old patient with multiple CAEs and left main trifurcation. PMID:27785148
Coronary artery bypass is superior to drug-eluting stents in multivessel coronary artery disease.
Guyton, Robert A
Percutaneous intervention for the treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease continues to displace coronary artery bypass graft surgery. But controlled trials of percutaneous intervention versus coronary bypass, in meta-analysis, have shown a significant survival advantage for coronary bypass. Studies of bare metal stents have not presented any data to prompt reversal of this conclusion for all but the small portion of patients most suited for stenting. Drug-eluting stents have no survival advantage compared with bare metal stents. Data from real-world registries have shown that the current therapy of multivessel disease patients has resulted in a relative excess mortality of as much as 46% in patients with initial stenting compared with patients with initial coronary bypass. Ethical considerations demand that patients with multivessel disease be informed of the documented mortality benefit of coronary bypass graft surgery.
[Coronary artery fistula between pulmonary trunk and left descending coronary artery--description of two cases].
Dytfeld, Dominik; Sarnowski, Wojciech
Fistulas connecting coronary arteries with trunk of pulmonary artery are the most common congenital defects of coronary arteries. Depending on the size of fistula they cause IHD symptoms of different intensification (Coronary Steal Phenomenon). The symptoms appear very often in advanced age. In this study two patients with coronary-pulmonary artery fistula accompanied by another heart defects (VSD or stenosis of aortic valve), but with no IHD-symptoms, are presented. To find possible coronary arteries malformations, it seems to be useful to perform the catheterization of coronary arteries in all patients, who are qualified for surgical procedure because of heart's disease. It also concerns younger patients with VSD (under 35) in whom coronarography is not a routine procedure. PMID:12362509
The Year in Cardiology 2013: coronary intervention.
Erbel, Raimund; Wijns, William
The year 2013 was rich of new developments in cardiology, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in particular. This overview article will focus on contributions in the following areas: training for PCI, appropriateness and indications; access site selection, risk scores, peri-procedural myocardial infarction; trial results and long-term follow-up; PCI for specific patient and lesion subsets, including acute coronary syndrome and ST-segment myocardial infarction; prevention of ischemic and reperfusion injury; stent thrombosis and new coronary stents and scaffolds.
Allergic acute coronary syndrome (Kounis syndrome)
Chhabra, Lovely; Masrur, Shihab; Parker, Matthew W.
Anaphylaxis rarely manifests as a vasospastic acute coronary syndrome with or without the presence of underlying coronary artery disease. The variability in the underlying pathogenesis produces a wide clinical spectrum of this syndrome. We present three cases of anaphylactic acute coronary syndrome that display different clinical variants of this phenomenon. The main pathophysiological mechanism of the allergic anginal syndromes is the inflammatory mediators released during a hypersensitivity reaction triggered by food, insect bites, or drugs. It is important to appropriately recognize and treat Kounis syndrome in patients with exposure to a documented allergen. PMID:26130889
Longitudinal stent deformation during coronary bifurcation stenting.
Vijayvergiya, Rajesh; Sharma, Prafull; Gupta, Ankush; Goyal, Praveg; Panda, Prashant
A distortion of implanted coronary stent along its longitudinal axis during coronary intervention is known as longitudinal stent deformation (LSD). LSD is frequently seen with newer drug eluting stents (DES), specifically with PROMUS Element stent. It is usually caused by impact of guide catheter tip, or following passage of catheters like balloon catheter, IVUS catheter, guideliner, etc. We hereby report a case of LSD during coronary bifurcation lesion intervention, using two-stents technique. Patient had acute stent thrombosis as a complication of LSD, which was successfully managed. PMID:26811144
A lesion stabilization method for coronary angiography.
Robert, Normand; Komljenovic, Philip T; Grant, Ryan; Sussman, Marshall S; Rowlands, J A
A method to make a coronary artery segment of interest appear stationary when viewing a sequence of angiographic images is proposed. The purpose of this method is to facilitate the assessment of lesions caused by coronary artery disease by improving detectability. A description of the stabilization algorithm based on template matching is given. Stabilization was performed on 41 clinical coronary angiograms exhibiting various stenoses and was successful in 39/41 cases. A quantitative analysis of stabilization errors was performed by introducing simulated moving vessels of decreasing contrast into sequences of clinical images. PMID:15798323
A lesion stabilization method for coronary angiography
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Robert, Normand; Komljenovic, Philip T.; Grant, Ryan; Sussman, Marshall S.; Rowlands, J. A.
A method to make a coronary artery segment of interest appear stationary when viewing a sequence of angiographic images is proposed. The purpose of this method is to facilitate the assessment of lesions caused by coronary artery disease by improving detectability. A description of the stabilization algorithm based on template matching is given. Stabilization was performed on 41 clinical coronary angiograms exhibiting various stenoses and was successful in 39/41 cases. A quantitative analysis of stabilization errors was performed by introducing simulated moving vessels of decreasing contrast into sequences of clinical images.
Unusual Malignant Coronary Artery Anomaly: Results of Coronary Angiography, MR Imaging, and Multislice CT
Apitzsch, Jonas; Kuehl, Harald P.; Muehlenbruch, Georg; Mahnken, Andreas H.
We report the case of a man with an uncommon anomaly of the origin and course of the left coronary artery. Clinical, coronary angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and multislice computed tomography findings of this intermittently symptomatic 49 year-old patient with the rare anomaly of his left coronary artery stemming from the right sinus of Valsalva and taking an interarterial and intraseptal course are presented. The diagnostic value of the different imaging modalities is discussed.
Direct communication between the left circumflex and the right coronary arteries: a very rare coronary anomaly circulation.
Oliveira, Marcos Danillo Peixoto; Cavalcanti, Rafael R César; Kajita, Alexandre H; Miranda, Thais; Kajita, Luiz J; Horta, Pedro E; Ribeiro, Expedito E; Lemos, Pedro Alves
Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) are congenital changes in their origin, course, and/or structure. Intercoronary communication (ICC) is a very rare subset with uni- or bidirectional blood flow between two or more coronary arteries. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with an acute coronary syndrome whose coronary angiography incidentally showed a surprising and very rare communication between the right coronary and left circumflex arteries.
Direct communication between the left circumflex and the right coronary arteries: a very rare coronary anomaly circulation
Oliveira, Marcos Danillo Peixoto; Cavalcanti, Rafael R. César; Kajita, Alexandre H.; Miranda, Thais; Kajita, Luiz J.; Horta, Pedro E.; Ribeiro, Expedito E.
Coronary artery anomalies (CAA) are congenital changes in their origin, course, and/or structure. Intercoronary communication (ICC) is a very rare subset with uni- or bidirectional blood flow between two or more coronary arteries. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with an acute coronary syndrome whose coronary angiography incidentally showed a surprising and very rare communication between the right coronary and left circumflex arteries. PMID:26885496
Progression from stenosis to occlusion in the proximal native coronary artery after coronary artery bypass grafting.
Tanaka, Akihito; Ishii, Hideki; Oshima, Hideki; Shibata, Yohei; Tatami, Yosuke; Osugi, Naohiro; Ota, Tomoyuki; Kawamura, Yoshihiro; Suzuki, Susumu; Usui, Akihiko; Murohara, Toyoaki
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an established treatment for multivessel coronary artery disease. However, problematic situations are occasionally encountered after CABG, such as disease progression in the native coronary artery with graft occlusion, which causes difficulty in revascularization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the native coronary artery after CABG. Between 2009 and 2012 in our institution, 351 patients underwent CABG, and 768 bypass grafts were anastomosed to non-occluded coronary arteries. Of these, 489 bypass grafts had available early postoperative angiographic results (≤6 months) suitable for assessment in this study. We defined malignant graft failure after CABG to be bypass graft occlusion and de novo complete occlusion of the target native coronary artery proximal to the graft anastomosis site. In the early angiographic results, 17 grafts were occluded (17/489; 3.5 %). Two of the grafts displayed malignant graft failure (a saphenous vein graft to the right coronary artery and a saphenous vein graft to the diagonal branch) (2 of 17 occluded grafts, and 2 of 489 studied grafts). Of the patent bypass grafts, 24 involved progression to occlusion in the proximal native coronary artery (19 saphenous vein grafts, 4 left internal thoracic artery grafts, and 1 right internal thoracic artery graft). Malignant graft failure was uncommon during short-term follow-up after CABG. At the same time, disease progression in the proximal native coronary artery from stenosis to occlusion following patent bypass grafting was relatively common, especially for vein grafts.
Indications, algorithms, and outcomes for coronary artery bypass surgery in patients with acute coronary syndromes.
Yerokun, Babatunde A; Williams, Judson B; Gaca, Jeffrey; Smith, Peter K; Roe, Matthew T
For patients with a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), guideline recommendations and treatment pathways focus on revascularization for definitive treatment if the patient is an appropriate candidate. Despite the widespread use of revascularization for NSTE-ACS, most patients undergo a percutaneous coronary intervention, whereas a minority of patients undergo coronary artery bypass grafting. Focusing specifically on the USA, the contemporary utilization, preoperative and perioperative considerations, and outcomes of NSTE-ACS patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting have not been comprehensively reviewed. PMID:26945187
Computer quantitation of coronary angiograms
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Ledbetter, D. C.; Selzer, R. H.; Gordon, R. M.; Blankenhorn, D. H.; Sanmarco, M. E.
A computer technique is being developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to automate the measurement of coronary stenosis. A Vanguard 35mm film transport is optically coupled to a Spatial Data System vidicon/digitizer which in turn is controlled by a DEC PDP 11/55 computer. Programs have been developed to track the edges of the arterial shadow, to locate normal and atherosclerotic vessel sections and to measure percent stenosis. Multiple frame analysis techniques are being investigated that involve on the one hand, averaging stenosis measurements from adjacent frames, and on the other hand, averaging adjacent frame images directly and then measuring stenosis from the averaged image. For the latter case, geometric transformations are used to force registration of vessel images whose spatial orientation changes.
Spontaneous closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas
Schleich, J; Rey, C; Gewillig, M; Bozio, A
Six cases of full spontaneous closure of congenital coronary artery fistulas, and one case of near closure, as seen by colour Doppler echocardiography, are presented. It is worth reconsidering the classical view that nearly all cases of spontaneous closure are eligible for surgical or percutaneous correction to prevent the development of significant and potentially fatal complications. As the natural course of coronary artery fistulas is still poorly defined, asymptomatic patients, especially those under 7 years old with small shunts, should be periodically followed up by echocardiography rather than be subjected to operative closure, even by catheterisation. Keywords: congenital heart disease; coronary artery disease; coronary artery fistula; spontaneous closure PMID:11250983
What Are the Risks of Coronary Angioplasty?
... is used, 15 percent of people have restenosis. Stent Restenosis Figure A shows the coronary arteries located ... surface of the heart. Figure B shows a stent-widened artery with normal blood flow. The inset ...
Update on coronary artery calcium imaging.
Hergott, Lawrence J
This update of coronary calcium imaging discusses methods of detecting and measuring coronary artery calcium and their correlation to coronary artery disease risk. The value of EBCT to traditional non-invasive cardiovascular tests is compared. A negative EBCT test makes the presence of atherosclerotic plaque, including unstable plaque, very unlikely. Negative EBCT may be consistent with low risk of a cardiovascular event over the next 2-5 years. Conversely, positive EBCT confirms the presence of a coronary plaque. The greater the amount of calcium, the greater the likelihood of occlusive disease, but there is a not a 1:1 relationship and findings may not be site specific. A high calcium score may be consistent with moderate to high risk of cardiovascular event within the next 2-5 years. Limitations and cautions concerning the general use of EBCT for screening are discussed. PMID:16060542
Embolic protection devices in percutaneous coronary intervention.
Meneguz Moreno, Rafael A; Costa, José R; Costa, Ricardo A; Abizaid, Alexandre
Clinical benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) depends on both angiographic success at lesion site as well as the restoration of adequate macro and microvascular perfusion. The pathophysiology of embolization from coronary lesions during PCI is multifactorial, being more frequently observed in patients with acute coronary syndrome and in those with lesions at saphenous vein graft (SVG). In this population, despite successful epicardial intervention, distal tissue perfusion may still be absent in up to a quarter of all PCI. Multiple devices and pharmacologic regimens have been developed and refined in an attempt to protect the microvascular circulation during PCI. Among them, embolic protection devices have raised as an attractive adjunctive toll due to their ability to retain debris and potentially prevent distal embolization, reducing major adverse cardiac events. Currently, their use has been validated for the treatment of SVG lesions but failed to show effectiveness in the percutaneous approach of acute coronary syndrome patients, including those with ST elevation myocardial infarction. PMID:27007782
Coronary perforation and covered stents: an update and review.
Al-Mukhaini, Mohammed; Panduranga, Prashanth; Sulaiman, Kadhim; Riyami, Abdulla Amour; Deeb, Mohammed; Riyami, Mohamed Barkat
Coronary perforation is a rare complication of percutaneous coronary intervention. We present two different types of coronary intervention, but both ending with coronary perforation. However, these perforations were tackled successfully by covered stents. This article reviews the incidence, causes, presentation, and management of coronary perforation in the present era of aggressive interventional cardiology. Coronary perforations are classified as type I (extraluminal crater), II (myocardial or pericardial blushing), and III (contrast streaming or cavity spilling). Types I and II coronary perforations are caused by stiff or hydrophilic guidewires. Type I has a benign prognosis, whereas type II coronary perforations have the potential to progress to tamponade. Type III coronary perforations are caused by balloons, stents, or other intracoronary devices and commonly lead to cardiac tamponade necessitating pericardial drainage. However, type III perforations can be managed with covered stents without need for surgical intervention. PMID:22121463
Coronary angiography in Lebanon: Use and overuse.
Sibai, Abla-Mehio; Tohme, Rania A; Saade, Georges A
Coronary angiography remains the gold standard for coronary artery disease diagnosis. In Lebanon, the density of cardiac catheterization centers is almost three times that of France (9.32 vs. 2.92 per 1,000,000 individuals) and recently collated national data indicate notably a high utilization rate of 53 per 10,000 individuals, placing Lebanon third after the United States and Germany. PMID:17399809
Nitric oxide activity in the human coronary circulation. Impact of risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis.
Quyyumi, A A; Dakak, N; Andrews, N P; Husain, S; Arora, S; Gilligan, D M; Panza, J A; Cannon, R O
The bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) in the human coronary circulation at rest and after acetylcholine (ACH)-induced vasodilation was investigated in 32 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries. The effects of intracoronary L-NG monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA) were investigated at rest and after ACH, sodium nitroprusside, and adenosine. L-NMMA (64 mumol/min) increased resting coronary vascular resistance by 22% (P < 0.001), reduced distal epicardial coronary artery diameter by 12.6% (P < 0.001), and inhibited ACH-induced coronary epicardial and microvascular vasodilation. These effects were reversed with intracoronary L-arginine. L-NMMA did not inhibit dilation in response to sodium nitroprusside and adenosine. 23 patients were exposed to one or more coronary risk factors. The vasoconstrictor effect of L-NMMA on the epicardial and microvessels was greater in patients free of risk factors: Coronary vascular resistance was 36% higher in patients without risks, compared to 17% higher in patients with risks (P < 0.05). Both epicardial and microvascular dilator effects of ACH were greater in patients without risk factors, and the inhibition of these effects by L-NMMA was also greater in patients without risk factors. Thus: (a) NO contributes importantly to resting epicardial and coronary microvascular tone, (b) coronary vascular dilation in response to ACH is predominantly due to increased production of NO, and (c) despite the absence of angiographic evidence of atherosclerosis, exposure to coronary risk factors is associated with reduced resting and stimulated bioavailability of NO from the human coronary circulation. PMID:7706483
Myocardial perfusion echocardiography and coronary microvascular dysfunction
Barletta, Giuseppe; Del Bene, Maria Riccarda
Our understanding of coronary syndromes has evolved in the last two decades out of the obstructive atherosclerosis of epicardial coronary arteries paradigm to include anatomo-functional abnormalities of coronary microcirculation. No current diagnostic technique allows direct visualization of coronary microcirculation, but functional assessments of this circulation are possible. This represents a challenge in cardiology. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) was a breakthrough in echocardiography several years ago that claimed the capability to detect myocardial perfusion abnormalities and quantify coronary blood flow. Research demonstrated that the integration of quantitative MCE and fractional flow reserve improved the definition of ischemic burden and the relative contribution of collaterals in non-critical coronary stenosis. MCE identified no-reflow and low-flow within and around myocardial infarction, respectively, and predicted the potential functional recovery of stunned myocardium using appropriate interventions. MCE exhibited diagnostic performances that were comparable to positron emission tomography in microvascular reserve and microvascular dysfunction in angina patients. Overall, MCE improved echocardiographic evaluations of ischemic heart disease in daily clinical practice, but the approval of regulatory authorities is lacking. PMID:26730291
Role of Animal Models in Coronary Stenting.
Iqbal, Javaid; Chamberlain, Janet; Francis, Sheila E; Gunn, Julian
Coronary angioplasty initially employed balloon dilatation only. This technique revolutionized the treatment of coronary artery disease, although outcomes were compromised by acute vessel closure, late constrictive remodeling, and restenosis due to neointimal proliferation. These processes were studied in animal models, which contributed to understanding the biology of endovascular arterial injury. Coronary stents overcome acute recoil, with improvements in the design and metallurgy since then, leading to the development of drug-eluting stents and bioresorbable scaffolds. These devices now undergo computer modeling and benchtop and animal testing before evaluation in clinical trials. Animal models, including rabbit, sheep, dog and pig are available, all with individual benefits and limitations. In smaller mammals, such as mouse and rabbit, the target for stenting is generally the aorta; whereas in larger animals, such as the pig, it is generally the coronary artery. The pig coronary stenting model is a gold-standard for evaluating safety; but insights into biomechanical properties, the biology of stenting, and efficacy in controlling neointimal proliferation can also be gained. Intra-coronary imaging modalities such as intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography allow precise serial evaluation in vivo, and recent developments in genetically modified animal models of atherosclerosis provide realistic test beds for future stents and scaffolds.
[Coronary angioplasty with a rotary atherotome].
Macaya, C; Iñíguez, A; Fernández-Ortiz, A; Casado, J; Hernández, R; Goicolea, J; Alfonso, F; Aragoncillo, P; Ruiz, C; Zarco, P
Several new coronary dilatation systems, including those using laser energy, atherectomy devices and stent implantation, are being developed as alternative or complementary procedures to coronary artery balloon angioplasty. We report our initial experience performing coronary angioplasty with a new rotational atherectomy device, the transluminal extraction catheter, which simultaneously cut and aspirate fragments from the atherosclerotic plaque. The components of the whole system are a special guidewire to cross the stenosis, the atherectomy catheter and the conduction-control unit. This unit, connected when the atherectomy catheter is positioned across the lesion, produces rotation of the conical bladder located in the catheter distal tip and simultaneous aspiration of residual particles. The procedure was performed in 11 patients in whom 13 lesions were dilated. All patients were male (mean age 55 +/- 23 years, range 45-77). The reason for the angioplasty was stable angina in 2 patients and unstable angina in the remaining seven. Initial success (residual stenosis less than 50% of vessel diameter) was obtained in 10 of 13 lesions. In two, conventional balloon angioplasty was required to improve atherectomy result. The only unsuccessful procedure was in a proximal right coronary artery venous graft, in which a large dissection occurred. Patient had angina but no myocardial infarction. Pathologic examination of aspirated material revealed fibrous tissue in 12 cases and cholesterol crystals in four. We conclude, with the limitation of a preliminary study, that rotational atherectomy with the transluminal extraction catheter is a useful procedure to relief coronary stenosis of the coronary arteries.
Surgical management of congenital coronary artery fistulas.
Lowe, J E; Oldham, H N; Sabiston, D C
Congenital fistulas are the most common of the coronary arterial malformations and with the widespread use of selective coronary arteriography are being recognized with increasing frequency. Twenty-eight patients with congenital coronary fistulas have been evaluated at the Duke University Medical Center between 1960 and 1981. An additional 258 patients have previously been reported in the literature, making a total of 286 available for review. The right coronary artery is most commonly involved, and the fistulous communication is most often to the right ventricle, right atrium or pulmonary artery. Slightly more than half of the patients with coronary fistulas are symptomatic at the time the diagnosis is made. Surgical correction is strongly recommended to prevent the development of congestive heart failure, angina, subacute bacterial endocarditis, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary hypertension, as well as coronary aneurysm formation, with subsequent rupture or embolization. There were no operative or late deaths in the patients who underwent operations. Moreover, there have been no recurrent fistulas during a mean follow-up period of ten years. The risks of operative correction appear to be considerably less than the potential for development of serious and potentially fatal complications, even in asymptomatic patients. Images Fig. 2a. Fig. 2b. Fig. 3. PMID:7283502
Coronary angiographic findings in asymptomatic systemic sclerosis.
Tarek, El-Gohary; Yasser, Amin E; Gheita, Tamer
The objective of this study was to assess coronary arterial involvement in asymptomatic systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Fourteen female patients with SSc (five limited and nine diffuse) were recruited for this study. All patients fulfilled the following 1980 American College of Rheumatology criteria for classification of SSc Masi et al (Arthritis Rheum 23:581-590 1980). None of them had chest pain nor electrocardiogram (ECG) changes suggestive of myocardial ischemia. All patients underwent thorough history taking, full clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, and basic screening for conventional atherosclerotic disease risk factors. ECG and coronary catheterization were done for all patients. We detected 19 coronary angiographic abnormalities in our cohort. Three out of nine diffuse SSc patients (33.33%) had ectasia of the coronary arteries, and all of them had slow flow but none in the limited type. One patient with limited SSc showed spasm. Three out of five patients with limited type (60%) had stenosis, one of them had uncontrolled hypertension, while none of the diffuse type had. Five patients (55.55%) of the diffuse type had tortuosity, while it was found in only two patients (40%) of the limited type. Three patients (33.3%) of the diffuse type had calcification of the coronaries, while it was seen in two patients (40%) of the limited type. Pathological involvement of coronary arteries in asymptomatic SSc patients is not uncommon but not paralleled by clinical symptomatology.
Coronary haemodynamics in left ventricular hypertrophy.
Wallbridge, D. R.; Cobbe, S. M.
BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have shown that patients with left ventricular hypertrophy develop electrocardiographic changes and left ventricular dysfunction during acute hypotension, and suggest that the lower end of autoregulation may be shifted upwards. AIM: To measure coronary blood flow (velocity) and flow reserve during acute hypotension in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. PATIENTS: Eight patients with atypical chest pain and seven with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy; all with angiographically normal epicardial vessels. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. METHODS: The physiological range of blood pressure was determined by previous ambulatory monitoring. Left ventricular mass was determined by echocardiography. At cardiac catheterisation, left coronary blood flow velocity was measured using a Judkins style Doppler tipped catheter. During acute hypotension with sodium nitroprusside, coronary blood flow velocity was recorded at rest and during maximal hyperaemia induced by intracoronary injection of adenosine. Quantitative coronary angiography was performed manually. RESULTS: For both groups coronary blood flow velocity remained relatively constant over a range of physiological diastolic blood pressures and showed a steep relation with diastolic blood pressure during maximal hyperaemia with intracoronary adenosine. Absolute coronary blood flow (calculated from quantitative angiographic data), standardised for left ventricular mass, showed reduced flow in the hypertensive group at rest and during maximal vasodilatation. CONCLUSION: The results are consistent with an inadequate blood supply to the hypertrophied heart, but no upward shift of the lower end of the autoregulatory range was observed. PMID:8705764
Heart transplant coronary artery disease: Multimodality approach in percutaneous intervention.
Leite, Luís; Matos, Vítor; Gonçalves, Lino; Silva Marques, João; Jorge, Elisabete; Calisto, João; Antunes, Manuel; Pego, Mariano
Coronary artery disease is the most important cause of late morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation. It is usually an immunologic phenomenon termed cardiac allograft vasculopathy, but can also be the result of donor-transmitted atherosclerosis. Routine surveillance by coronary angiography should be complemented by intracoronary imaging, in order to determine the nature of the coronary lesions, and also by assessment of their functional significance to guide the decision whether to perform percutaneous coronary intervention. We report a case of coronary angiography at five-year follow-up after transplantation, using optical coherence tomography and fractional flow reserve to assess and optimize treatment of coronary disease in this challenging population.
Infective endocarditis related to a coronary artery fistula with an unusual localization and ectatic coronary arteries.
Gerede, Demet Menekse; Acibuca, Aynur; Uzun, Caglar; Goksuluk, Huseyin; Ongun, Aydan; Kilickap, Mustafa; Erol, Cetin
Coronary artery fistulas (CAF) are a rare cardiac anomaly that can be either congenital or acquired. CAFs have clinical significance because of complications such as dyspnea on exertion, congestive heart failure, and cardiac tamponade. The literature also contains case reports of CAF presenting as bacterial endocarditis. We describe a 31-year-old man who presented with native valve infective endocarditis related to an unusual form of a CAF between the circumflex coronary artery and left ventricle. He also had giant coronary arteries, which were imaged with computed tomography angiography and transesophageal echocardiography. The diameter of the circumflex coronary artery and left main coronary artery was measured as 19 mm. Surgical intervention for heart valves was performed because of vegetations resistant to continued antibiotic treatment. At the same time, the CAF was treated with surgery.
Hypoplastic coronary arteries and high takeoff position of the right coronary ostium. A fatal combination of congenital coronary artery anomalies in an amateur athlete.
Menke, D M; Waller, B F; Pless, J E
This report describes a previously unrecognized combination of congenital coronary artery abnormalities in the heart of a 30-year-old amateur athlete who died suddenly during a basketball game. Both right and left circumflex coronary arteries were half of their normal length (hypoplastic) decreasing posterior ventricular myocardial perfusion. In addition, the right coronary ostium rose 5 mm above the sinotubular junction (high takeoff position), which also contributed to decreased right coronary artery perfusion. This combination of congenital coronary arterial lesions should be added to the list of structural cardiac defects associated with exercise-related sudden death.
Role of coronary physiology in the contemporary management of coronary artery disease
Ruparelia, Neil; Kharbanda, Rajesh K
Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide with approximately 1 in 30 patients with stable CAD experiencing death or acute myocardial infarction each year. The presence and extent of resultant myocardial ischaemia has been shown to confer an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Whilst, optimal medical therapy (OMT) forms the cornerstone of the management of patients with stable CAD, a significant number of patients present with ischaemia refractory to OMT. Historically coronary angiography alone has been used to determine coronary lesion severity in both stable and acute settings. It is increasingly clear that this approach fails to accurately identify the haemodynamic significance of lesions; especially those that are visually "intermediate" in severity. Revascularisation based upon angiographic appearances alone may not reduce coronary events above OMT. Technological advances have enabled the measurement of physiological indices including the fractional flow reserve, the index of microcirculatory resistance and the coronary flow reserve. The integration of these parameters into the routine management of patients presenting to the cardiac catheterization laboratory with CAD represents a critical adjunctive tool in the optimal management of these patients by identifying patients that would most benefit from revascularisation and importantly also highlighting patients that would not gain benefit and therefore reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes associated with coronary revascularisation. Furthermore, these techniques are applicable to a broad range of patients including those with left main stem disease, proximal coronary disease, diabetes mellitus, previous percutaneous coronary intervention and with previous coronary artery bypass grafting. This review will discuss current concepts relevant to coronary physiology assessment, its role in the management of both stable and acute patients and future applications. PMID
Role of coronary physiology in the contemporary management of coronary artery disease.
Ruparelia, Neil; Kharbanda, Rajesh K
Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains the leading cause of death worldwide with approximately 1 in 30 patients with stable CAD experiencing death or acute myocardial infarction each year. The presence and extent of resultant myocardial ischaemia has been shown to confer an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Whilst, optimal medical therapy (OMT) forms the cornerstone of the management of patients with stable CAD, a significant number of patients present with ischaemia refractory to OMT. Historically coronary angiography alone has been used to determine coronary lesion severity in both stable and acute settings. It is increasingly clear that this approach fails to accurately identify the haemodynamic significance of lesions; especially those that are visually "intermediate" in severity. Revascularisation based upon angiographic appearances alone may not reduce coronary events above OMT. Technological advances have enabled the measurement of physiological indices including the fractional flow reserve, the index of microcirculatory resistance and the coronary flow reserve. The integration of these parameters into the routine management of patients presenting to the cardiac catheterization laboratory with CAD represents a critical adjunctive tool in the optimal management of these patients by identifying patients that would most benefit from revascularisation and importantly also highlighting patients that would not gain benefit and therefore reducing the likelihood of adverse outcomes associated with coronary revascularisation. Furthermore, these techniques are applicable to a broad range of patients including those with left main stem disease, proximal coronary disease, diabetes mellitus, previous percutaneous coronary intervention and with previous coronary artery bypass grafting. This review will discuss current concepts relevant to coronary physiology assessment, its role in the management of both stable and acute patients and future applications.
Appropriateness of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Chan, Paul S.; Patel, Manesh R.; Klein, Lloyd W.; Krone, Ronald J.; Dehmer, Gregory J.; Kennedy, Kevin; Nallamothu, Brahmajee K.; Douglas Weaver, W.; Masoudi, Frederick A.; Rumsfeld, John S.; Brindis, Ralph G.; Spertus, John A.
Context Despite the widespread use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the appropriateness of these procedures in contemporary practice is unknown. Objective To assess the appropriateness of PCI in the United States. Design, Setting, and Patients Multicenter, prospective study of patients within the National Cardiovascular Data Registry undergoing PCI between July 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010, at 1091 US hospitals. The appropriateness of PCI was adjudicated using the appropriate use criteria for coronary revascularization. Results were stratified by whether the procedure was performed for an acute (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, or unstable angina with high-risk features) or nonacute indication. Main Outcome Measures Proportion of acute and nonacute PCIs classified as appropriate, uncertain, or inappropriate; extent of hospital-level variation in inappropriate procedures. Results Of 500 154 PCIs, 355 417 (71.1%) were for acute indications (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 103 245 [20.6%]; non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, 105 708 [21.1%]; high-risk unstable angina, 146 464 [29.3%]), and 144 737 (28.9%) for nonacute indications. For acute indications, 350 469 PCIs (98.6%) were classified as appropriate, 1055 (0.3%) as uncertain, and 3893 (1.1%) as inappropriate. For nonacute indications, 72 911 PCIs (50.4%) were classified as appropriate, 54 988 (38.0%) as uncertain, and 16 838 (11.6%) as inappropriate. The majority of inappropriate PCIs for nonacute indications were performed in patients with no angina (53.8%), low-risk ischemia on noninvasive stress testing (71.6%), or suboptimal (≤1 medication) antianginal therapy (95.8%). Furthermore, although variation in the proportion of inappropriate PCI across hospitals was minimal for acute procedures, there was substantial hospital variation for nonacute procedures (median hospital rate for inappropriate PCI, 10
Assessment of coronary artery aneurysms with multiplane transesophageal echocardiography.
Kosar, E; Chandraratna, P A
Coronary artery aneurysms are rare and may be difficult to detect clinically. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography provides numerous imaging planes that may improve the assessment of coronary aneurysms and act as an adjunct to standard angiography. Five patients with angiographically detected coronary aneurysms were studied with multiplane transesophageal echocardiography and Doppler flow imaging. Transesophageal echocardiography was successful in identifying the size and characteristics of the coronary aneurysms. Doppler ultrasound identified markedly increased flow velocity in a patient with a coronary arteriovenous fistula and decreased coronary flow velocity in two patients with aneurysmal coronary arteries and intracoronary thrombus. Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography is a useful, noninvasive method of assessing coronary artery aneurysms and may act as an adjunct to angiography in identifying fistula anastomosis.
[Acute coronary syndrome and cancer: which therapeutic option first?].
Vicinelli, Paolo; Martinoni, Alessandro; Villani, Camillo; Zuccari, Marco; Morra, Sergio; Di Credico, Germano; D'Urbano, Maurizio
Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. We report our experience in a cancer patient with acute coronary syndrome successfully treated by hybrid revascularization, i.e. off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, followed by surgical removal of the tumor and percutaneous coronary intervention. The concomitant presence of cancer and acute coronary syndrome is not rare, ranging from 1.9% to 4.2%. Usually, the most life-threatening disease should be treated first, more frequently coronary artery disease. There are several therapeutic approaches to patients with cancer and coronary artery disease and cancer, including percutaneous coronary intervention, surgical treatment of cancer, or coronary artery bypass grafting. Each of these options should consider the severity of cardiac disease, the stage of malignancy and the clinical conditions of the patient.
Coronary Artery Revascularization in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
... Patient Page Coronary Artery Revascularization in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus David H. Fitchett , Milan Gupta , Michael E. ... with exertion), heart attack, and possibly sudden death. Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease Patients with diabetes mellitus ...
Percutaneous coronary angioscopy and stents
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Heuser, Richard R.
With the expanding array of therapies available for coronary intervention, the invasive cardiologist has many choices for treating a specific lesion in an individual patient. Certain types of lesions might respond more effectively with stents, particularly the rigid Palmax- Schatz device. Thrombus and dissection immediately following stent placement are associated with early occlusion, and the interventionist must be able to assess their presence pre- and post-stenting. Angiography is deficient in quantifying minimal disease and in defining lesion architecture and composition, as well as the plaque rupture and thrombosis associated with unstable angina. It is also imprecise in detecting dissection and thrombus. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides high-resolution images that delineate irregularities and other structures inside the lumen and within the vessel wall and surrounding tissues. Like angiography, IVUS has limited specificity for thrombus differentiation. Angioscopy is superior to angiography and IVUS in detecting thrombus and dissection. Angioscopy allows the clinician to assess the appearance of stent struts after deployment and at follow-up. This may aid in reducing acute complications as well as restenosis. Follow-up angioscopy of stents to detect thrombus or exposed struts may guide therapy in a patient who has clinical symptoms of restenosis.
Low Diagnostic Yield of Elective Coronary Angiography
Patel, Manesh R.; Peterson, Eric D.; Dai, David; Brennan, J. Matthew; Redberg, Rita F.; Anderson, H. Vernon; Brindis, Ralph G.; Douglas, Pamela S.
Background Guidelines for triaging patients for cardiac catheterization recommend a risk assessment and noninvasive testing. We determined patterns of noninvasive testing and the diagnostic yield of catheterization among patients with suspected coronary artery disease in a contemporary national sample. Methods From January 2004 through April 2008, at 663 hospitals in the American College of Cardiology National Cardiovascular Data Registry, we identified patients without known coronary artery disease who were undergoing elective catheterization. The patients' demographic characteristics, risk factors, and symptoms and the results of noninvasive testing were correlated with the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease, which was defined as stenosis of 50% or more of the diameter of the left main coronary artery or stenosis of 70% or more of the diameter of a major epicardial vessel. Results A total of 398,978 patients were included in the study. The median age was 61 years; 52.7% of the patients were men, 26.0% had diabetes, and 69.6% had hypertension. Noninvasive testing was performed in 83.9% of the patients. At catheterization, 149,739 patients (37.6%) had obstructive coronary artery disease. No coronary artery disease (defined as <20% stenosis in all vessels) was reported in 39.2% of the patients. Independent predictors of obstructive coronary artery disease included male sex (odds ratio, 2.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64 to 2.76), older age (odds ratio per 5-year increment, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.30), presence of insulin-dependent diabetes (odds ratio, 2.14; 95% CI, 2.07 to 2.21), and presence of dyslipidemia (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.57 to 1.67). Patients with a positive result on a noninvasive test were moderately more likely to have obstructive coronary artery disease than those who did not undergo any testing (41.0% vs. 35.0%; P<0.001; adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.19 to 1.37). Conclusions In this study, slightly more than one
Interposition vein graft for giant coronary aneurysm repair
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Firstenberg, M. S.; Azoury, F.; Lytle, B. W.; Thomas, J. D.
Coronary aneurysms in adults are rare. Surgical treatment is often concomitant to treating obstructing coronary lesions. However, the ideal treatment strategy is poorly defined. We present a case of successful treatment of a large coronary artery aneurysm with a reverse saphenous interposition vein graft. This modality offers important benefits over other current surgical and percutaneous techniques and should be considered as an option for patients requiring treatment for coronary aneurysms.
Anomalous Right Coronary Artery: A Case Report
Keswani, Amit N.; Dann, Kristen; Ramee, Stephen
Background Anomalous coronary arteries (ACAs) are rare but potentially life-threatening abnormalities of coronary circulation. Most variations are benign; however, some may lead to myocardial ischemia and/or sudden cardiac arrest. Case Report We present the case of a patient with a significant medical history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and gastroesophageal reflux disease who presented to the emergency department with atypical chest pain. She underwent a cardiac catheterization that showed an anomalous right coronary artery originating near the anterior left coronary artery sinus and coursing between the pulmonary artery and aorta. The patient was deemed a poor surgical candidate, was discharged home on medical management with beta blocker therapy, and was instructed to restrict her physical activity. Conclusion Treatment of significant anomalies should be guided by the nature of the anomalous vessel. Symptomatic patients with ACAs have 3 treatment options: medical management, coronary angioplasty and stent deployment, or surgical correction. These treatment options remain controversial. Some clinicians advocate revascularization, but the long-term benefits of revascularization therapies have not yet been demonstrated. PMID:24940145
Apelin Levels In Isolated Coronary Artery Ectasia
Kaplan, İbrahim; Yıldız, Abdulkadir; Akıl, Mehmet Ata; Acet, Halit; Yüksel, Murat; Polat, Nihat; Aydın, Mesut; Oylumlu, Mustafa; Ertaș, Faruk; Kaya, Hasan; Alan, Sait
Background and Objectives The etiopathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is not known completely. In most of the cases, CAE is associated with atherosclerosis; however, isolated CAE has a nonatherosclerotic mechanism. The association between atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and apelin has been examined in previous studies. However, the role of plasma apelin in isolated coronary artery ectasia has not been studied. In this study, we investigated the relationship between plasma apelin levels and isolated coronary artery ectasia. Subjects and Methods The study population included a total of 54 patients. Twenty-six patients had isolated CAE (53.6±8.1 years); 28 patients with normal coronary arteries (51.6±8.8 years) and with similar risk factors and demographic characteristics served as the control group. Apelin levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay kit. Results Apelin level in the CAE group was significantly lower (apelin=0.181±0.159 ng/mL) than that in the control group (apelin=0.646±0.578 ng/mL) (p=0.033). Glucose, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion In this study, we showed that patients with isolated CAE have decreased plasma apelin levels compared with the control group. Based on the data, a relationship between plasma apelin and isolated CAE was determined. PMID:26413106
Pathology of coronary atherosclerosis and thrombosis
Yasuda, Satoshi; Noguchi, Teruo; Ishibashi-Ueda, Hatsue
The process of early atherosclerotic plaque progression is characterized by the development of pathologic intimal thickening (PIT) with lipid pool that may transform into the necrotic core to form fibroatheroma, where infiltration of foamy macrophages plays a crucial role. The expansion of the necrotic core is also attributable to intraplaque hemorrhage. Thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) is characterized by a relatively large necrotic core with an overlying thin fibrous cap measuring <65 µm typically containing numerous macrophages, and is considered to be the precursor lesion of plaque rupture which is the most common cause of coronary thrombosis. The second common cause of acute thrombosis is plaque erosion, while calcified nodules is known to be the least frequent cause of coronary thrombosis. Coronary thrombosis can occur without symptoms to form healed lesions, which contributes to an increase in plaque burden and luminal narrowing. The process of plaque progression is generally accompanied by the progression of calcification. An understanding of the histomorphological characteristics of coronary plaques should provide important insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of atherosclerotic coronary disease for both basic and clinical researchers as well as for clinicians. PMID:27500096
21 CFR 870.4310 - Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR
... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge... Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge. (a) Identification. A cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge is a device used in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to measure the pressure of the blood...
[Anatomy and physiology of the heart and coronary arteries].
Leclercq, Florence
The myocardium assures the supply of oxygen to the body. The provision of oxygen to the myocardium by the coronary arteries is dependent on two key parameters: the coronary blood flow and the ability to extract oxygen from the arterial blood. Coronary artery disease is almost always the consequence of atherosclerosis and can lead to myocardial infarction.
21 CFR 870.4310 - Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR
... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge... Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge. (a) Identification. A cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge is a device used in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to measure the pressure of the blood...
The role of inflammation in coronary artery calcification.
Li, Jian-Jun; Zhu, Chen-Gang; Yu, Bing; Liu, Ya-Xin; Yu, Meng-Yue
Vascular calcification is an age-dependent, common finding in human coronary arteries and begins as early as the second decade of life, just after fatty streak formation. Previous studies have showed that the severity of coronary calcification is closely related to atherosclerotic plaque burden and cardiac event rate. In the past few decades, coronary calcification has been considered passive and degenerative. With recent clinical and basic research, however, there is increasing recognition that coronary calcification is an active, regulated process. Current diagnostic methods for coronary artery calcification (CAC) are usually traditional coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) while treatment for patients with calcified coronary arteries is troublesome. Several lines of evidence suggest that inflammation plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis as well as its clinical manifestations. Recent study showed that inflammatory process might be also involved in coronary calcification. Accordingly, measurements of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) may in part reflect indices of atherosclerosis, such as coronary calcification, and are likely to provide distinct information regarding cardiovascular risk. In this article, we review the current evidence of relationship between coronary calcification and inflammation for purpose of drawing the more attention on the inflammatory mechanism of coronary calcification, which may change our research as well as therapeutic strategies for coronary calcification in the future. PMID:17964226
FMLP provokes coronary vasoconstriction and myocardial ischemia in rabbits
Gillespie, M.N.; Booth, D.C.; Friedman, B.J.; Cunningham, M.R.; Jay, M.; De Maria, A.N. )
Recent pathological studies of coronary arteries from humans with suspected coronary spasm have revealed an augmented intramural burden of inflammatory cells. To test the hypothesis than inappropriate activation of inflammatory cells participates in the evolution of coronary vasospasm, the present experiment employed a newly developed coronary arteriographic technique for use in pentobarbital-anesthetized rabbits to evaluate the coronary vasomotor actions of the nonselective inflammatory cell stimulant, N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP). In 10 of 10 animals, selective left intracoronary injection of 200 ng fMLP evoked profound left coronary narrowing accompanied in all cases by ST segment deviation and dysrhythmias. Thallium-201 scintigraphy demonstrated hypoperfusion of the left ventricular free wall and septum supplied by the spastic coronary artery. The fMLP-induced epicardial vasoconstriction, ischemic electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, and thallium perfusion defects were reversed by intravenous nitroglycerin. Neither the right coronary artery nor its distribution were influenced by left coronary injection of fMLP. Additional experiments in isolated, salt solution-perfused rabbit hearts demonstrated that fMLP failed to exert direct coronary vasoconstrictor effects. These observations indicate that the nonselective inflammatory cell stimulant, fMLP, provokes arteriographically demonstrable coronary spasm with attendant myocardial hypoperfusion and ischemic ECG changes in anesthetized rabbits. Such a model may be useful in exploring the dynamic role of inflammatory cells in development of coronary spasm.
21 CFR 870.4310 - Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge.
Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR
... 21 Food and Drugs 8 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge... Cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge. (a) Identification. A cardiopulmonary bypass coronary pressure gauge is a device used in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to measure the pressure of the blood...
Rest period duration of the coronary arteries: Implications for magnetic resonance coronary angiography
Shechter, Guy; Resar, Jon R.; McVeigh, Elliot R.
Magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography coronary imaging is susceptible to artifacts caused by motion of the heart. The presence of rest periods during the cardiac and respiratory cycles suggests that images free of motion artifacts could be acquired. In this paper, we studied the rest period (RP) duration of the coronary arteries during a cardiac contraction and a tidal respiratory cycle. We also studied whether three MR motion correction methods could be used to increase the respiratory RP duration. Free breathing x-ray coronary angiograms were acquired in ten patients. The three-dimensional (3D) structure of the coronary arteries was reconstructed from a biplane acquisition using stereo reconstruction methods. The 3D motion of the arterial model was then recovered using an automatic motion tracking algorithm. The motion field was then decomposed into separate cardiac and respiratory components using a cardiac respiratory parametric model. For the proximal-to-middle segments of the right coronary artery (RCA), a cardiac RP (<1 mm 3D displacement) of 76{+-}34 ms was measured at end systole (ES), and 65{+-}42 ms in mid-diastole (MD). The cardiac RP was 80{+-}25 ms at ES and 112{+-}42 ms at MD for the proximal 5 cm of the left coronary tree. At end expiration, the respiratory RP (in percent of the respiratory period) was 26{+-}8% for the RCA and 27{+-}17% for the left coronary tree. Left coronary respiratory RP (<0.5 mm 3D displacement) increased with translation (32% of the respiratory period), rigid body (51%), and affine (79%) motion correction. The RCA respiratory RP using translational (27%) and rigid body (33%) motion correction were not statistically different from each other. Measurements of the cardiac and respiratory rest periods will improve our understanding of the temporal and spatial resolution constraints for coronary imaging.
Visualization of Coronary Arteries from Intravenous Angiograms
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Selzer, Robert H.
Under most circumstances, the coronary arteries are not satisfactorily visualized in intravenous angiograms. The objective of this study is to develop computer image enhancement methods that will improve the quality of the latent coronary images to a degree sufficient to detect an obstructive lesion. Such a technique, if successful, could be used as a first step alternative to conventional coronary angiography for individuals with ambiguous noninvasive cardiac tests. The determination of no lesion from the intravenous procedure would relieve the need for the conventional angiogram, while verification of an obstructive lesion could be followed by a conventional angiogram. The nature of the imaging problem and a description of the methods and initial processing results are described in this paper.
[ST myocardial infarction with spontaneous coronary reperfusion].
Uriel, Nir; Moravsky, Gil; Blatt, Alex; Vered, Zvi; Krakover, Ricardo; Kaluski, Edo
ST elevation myocardial infarction continues to be a major medical problem even in the beginning of the 21st century. Treatment guidelines for these patients are based on multiple randomized clinical trials. In order to minimize myocardial damage, early patency of the infarct relating artery must be accomplished. This is the major difference in the treatment strategy between ST elevation myocardial infarction and other acute coronary syndromes. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention and fibrinolysis are the two treatment modalities for achieving myocardial reperfusion. The subgroup of ST elevation myocardial infarction with spontaneous coronary artery reperfusion carries a more favorable prognosis. This review addresses the clinical characteristics, natural history, prognosis and treatment strategies for this group, with special emphasis on the optimal timing for revascularization, and the role of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
Coronary microvascular obstruction in acute myocardial infarction.
Niccoli, Giampaolo; Scalone, Giancarla; Lerman, Amir; Crea, Filippo
The success of a primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) in the setting of ST elevation myocardial infarction depends on the functional and structural integrity of coronary microcirculation. Coronary microvascular dysfunction and obstruction (CMVO) occurs in up to half of patients submitted to apparently successful primary PCI and is associated to a much worse outcome. The current review summarizes the complex mechanisms responsible for CMVO, including pre-existing coronary microvascular dysfunction, and highlights the current limitations in the assessment of microvascular function. More importantly, at the light of the substantial failure of trials hitherto published on the treatment of CMVO, this review proposes a novel integrated therapeutic approach, which should overcome the limitations of previous studies.
(1) Coronary Events Caused by Myocardial Bridge
Yoko, Kawawa; Ehiichi, Kohda; Toshiharu, Ishii
Myocardial bridge (MB), which covers a part of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), is a normal anatomical variant structure (45% in frequency by autopsy) in LAD. MB contraction plays the role of a "double-edged sword" on the coronary events, suppressing coronary atherosclerosis under the MB, yet generating abnormal blood flow associated with coronary heart diseases (CHDs). High shear stress driven by MB compression causes the suppression of vascular permeability and vasoactive protein expression such as e-NOS and endothelin-1, which leads to the suppression of atherosclerosis in the LAD segment under the MB. However, despite the prevalent view of MB as benignancy by conventional coronary angiography (5-6% in frequency), with advance of imaging technique such as multislice spiral computed tomography [(MSCT); 16% in frequency], cardiologists are now frequently aware of symptomatic MB occurring not only in hospitalized patients, but also in young athletes free from atherosclerosis. Moreover, the large mass volume of MB muscle induces atherosclerosis evolution at the settled site in LAD proximal to MB and contributes to the occurrence of myocardial infarction. These events upon the coronary events result from the different pathophysiological mechanisms induced by contractile force of MB, which is solely determined just by the integration of anatomical properties of MB, such as the location, length and thickness of MB in an individual LAD. A recent MSCT provides the objective quantification of the anatomical variables that correlate with the histopathological results in relation to the occurrence of CHD. In this review, we therefore discuss the necessity to explore MB as a inherent chance anatomical risk factor for CHD. PMID:23555365
Bioresorbable scaffolds for percutaneous coronary interventions
Gogas, Bill D.
Innovations in drug-eluting stents (DES) have substantially reduced rates of in-segment restenosis and early stent thrombosis, improving clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). However a fixed metallic implant in a vessel wall with restored patency and residual disease remains a precipitating factor for sustained local inflammation, in-stent neo-atherosclerosis and impaired vasomotor function increasing the risk for late complications attributed to late or very late stent thrombosis and late target lesion revascularization (TLR) (late catch-up). The quest for optimal coronary stenting continues by further innovations in stent design and by using biocompatible materials other than cobalt chromium, platinum chromium or stainless steel for engineering coronary implants. Bioresorbable scaffolds made of biodegradable polymers or biocorrodible metals with properties of transient vessel scaffolding, local drug-elution and future restoration of vessel anatomy, physiology and local hemodynamics have been recently developed. These devices have been utilized in selected clinical applications so far providing preliminary evidence of safety showing comparable performance with current generation drug-eluting stents (DES). Herein we provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of these technologies, we elaborate on the potential benefits of transient coronary scaffolds over permanent stents in the context of vascular reparation therapy, and we further focus on the evolving challenges these devices have to overcome to compete with current generation DES. Condensed Abstract:: The quest for optimizing percutaneous coronary interventions continues by iterative innovations in device materials beyond cobalt chromium, platinum chromium or stainless steel for engineering coronary implants. Bioresorbable scaffolds made of biodegradable polymers or biocorrodible metals with properties of transient vessel scaffolding; local drug-elution and future
Pseudotumour formation in atheromatous coronary arteries.
Treacy, Ann D; Norita, Katsuya; Ingram, Peter J; Sheppard, Mary N
Three cases with mass like lesions (pseudotumours) surrounding atheromatous coronary arteries were referred to the Royal Brompton Hospital for expert pathology review. All were males with mean age 74 years (range 55-91). In all cases, coronial autopsies were carried out for sudden deaths in the community. Past medical histories of note were hypertension (N = 2) and ischaemic heart disease (N = 1), with one patient having a past history of aortic aneurysm repair. At autopsy, firm, white and whorled masses surrounded both right and left coronary arteries ranging in size from 9 to 25 mm in diameter. Each coronary artery had intimal atheroma with associated stenosis ranging from moderate to severe. A thrombus was identified in one case. Histological sections showed a mixed inflammatory infiltrate extending from the media into the adventitia of each coronary artery, composed predominantly of plasma cells and lymphocytes with rare neutrophils and eosinophils. There was accompanying dense fibrosis accounting for approximately 50% of the mass size on microscopic examination of slides. The presence of intimal circumferential atheroma was confirmed in all cases. Immunohistochemical studies showed staining with IgG4 in two of three cases. Atheroma may be associated with mild chronic inflammation present in the intima or associated with plaques and adventitia. The differential diagnosis for coronary artery inflammatory masses would include vasculitis, syphilis, inflammatory pseudotumor and IgG4 associated disease. This is the first report of isolated coronary artery IgG4 related disease in association with atheroma. PMID:25882155
Infectious and coronary artery disease
Rezaee-Zavareh, Mohammad Saeid; Tohidi, Mohammad; Sabouri, Amin; Ramezani-Binabaj, Mahdi; Sadeghi-Ghahrodi, Mohsen; Einollahi, Behzad
BACKGROUND Atherosclerotic event is one of the most causes of death in the world. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one manifestation of atherosclerosis. It is well-known that several risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), smoking, hypertension (HTN), have effects on it. It is proposed that infection can lead to atherosclerosis or even make its process faster. Here, we discuss about the effect of some of infectious agents on the atherosclerosis and CAD. METHODS In this study, first we did a comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct using some related keywords such as atherosclerosis, CAD, myocardial infarction (MI), infection, and name of viruses and bacteria. After finding the related papers, we reviewed the correlation between some microbial agents and risk of CAD. RESULTS Literature has reported several infectious agents (viruses, bacteria, and parasites) that can be associated with risk of CAD. This association for some of them like Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Chlamydia pneumonia (C. pneumoniae), and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a very strong. On the other hand, there are some other agents like influenza that still need to be more investigated through original studies. Furthermore, different mechanisms (general and special) have been reported for the association of each agent with CAD. CONCLUSION Based on the studies in databases and our literature review, it is so clear that some microbes and infectious agents can be involved in the process of atherosclerosis. Therefore, controlling each type of infections especially among people with a traditional risk factor for atherosclerosis should be taken into account for reducing the risk of CAD and atherosclerosis. PMID:27114736
Modifications of coronary risk factors.
Albu, Jeanine; Gottlieb, Sheldon H; August, Phyllis; Nesto, Richard W; Orchard, Trevor J
In addition to the revascularization and glycemic management interventions assigned at random, the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) design includes the uniform control of major coronary artery disease risk factors, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking, central obesity, and sedentary lifestyle. Target levels for risk factors were adjusted throughout the trial to comply with changes in recommended clinical practice guidelines. At present, the goals are low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <2.59 mmol/L (<100 mg/dL) with an optional goal of <1.81 mmol/L (<70 mg/dL); plasma triglyceride level <1.70 mmol/L (<150 mg/dL); blood pressure level <130 mm Hg systolic and <80 mm Hg diastolic; and smoking cessation treatment for all active smokers. Algorithms were developed for the pharmacologic management of dyslipidemia and hypertension. Dietary prescriptions for the management of glycemia, plasma lipid profiles, and blood pressure levels were adapted from existing clinical practice guidelines. Patients with a body mass index >25 were prescribed moderate caloric restriction; after the trial was under way, a lifestyle weight-management program was instituted. All patients were formally prescribed both endurance and resistance/flexibility exercises, individually adapted to their level of disability and fitness. Pedometers were distributed as a biofeedback strategy. Strategies to achieve the goals for risk factors were designed by BARI 2D working groups (lipid, cardiovascular and hypertension, and nonpharmacologic intervention) and the ongoing implementation of the strategies is monitored by lipid, hypertension, and lifestyle intervention management centers.
Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease The Coronary Arterial Circulation
Perloff, Joseph K
Background: The coronary circulation in cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) includes the extramural coronary arteries, basal coronary blood flow, flow reserve, the coronary microcirculation, and coronary atherogenesis. Methods: Coronary arteriograms were analyzed in 59 adults with CCHD. Dilated extramural coronaries were examined histologically in six patients. Basal coronary blood flow was determined with N-13 positron emission tomography in 14 patients and in 10 controls. Hyperemic flow was induced by intravenous dipyridamole pharmacologic stress. Immunostaining against SM alpha-actin permitted microcirculatory morphometric analysis. Non-fasting total cholesterols were retrieved in 279 patients divided into four groups: Group A---143 cyanotic unoperated, Group B---47 rendered acyanotic by reparative surgery, Group C---41 acyanotic unoperated, Group D---48 acyanotic before and after operation. Results: Extramural coronary arteries were mildly or moderately dilated to ectatic in 49/59 angiograms. Histologic examination disclosed loss of medial smooth muscle, increased medial collagen, and duplication of internal elastic lamina. Basal coronary flow was appreciably increased. Hyperemic flow was comparable to controls. Remodeling of the microcirculation was based upon coronary arteriolar length, volume and surface densities. Coronary atherosclerosis was absent in both the arteriograms and the necropsy specimens. Conclusions: Extramural coronary arteries in CCHD dilate in response to endothelial vasodilator substances supplemented by mural attenuation caused by medial abnormalities. Basal coronary flow was appreciably increased, but hyperemic flow was normal. Remodeling of the microcirculation was responsible for preservation of flow reserve. The coronaries were atheroma-free because of the salutory effects of hypocholesterolemia, hypoxemia, upregulated nitric oxide, low platelet counts, and hyperbilirubinrmia. PMID:22845810
Recurrent myocardial infarction with patent coronary arteries.
Haywood, L. J.; Khan, A. H.; Bornheimer, J.; Finck, E.; Tatter, D.
Two separate episodes of severe chest pain occurred several years apart in a 25-year-old male patient with typical clinical findings of acute myocardial infarction with each episode. Cardiac catheterization following the second infarction confirmed the presence of myocardial dysfunction with apical akinesis and dyskinesis. Both coronary arteries were radiologically patent; however, there was evidence of probable recanalization of the right coronary artery. Several months later, the patient developed flank pain, hematuria, progressive renal failure, and cardiac decompensation, and died with intractable arrhythmias. At autopsy, a large apical mitral thrombosis was found and was the presumptive source of multiple systemic emboli. Images Figure 3 Figure 4 PMID:9195802
Inflammation: a trigger for acute coronary syndrome.
Sager, Hendrik B; Nahrendorf, Matthias
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the vessel wall and a major cause of death worldwide. One of atherosclerosis' most dreadful complications are acute coronary syndromes that comprise ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, and unstable angina. We now understand that inflammation substantially contributes to the initiation, progression, and destabilization of atherosclerosis. In this review, we will focus on the role of inflammatory leukocytes, which are the cellular protagonists of vascular inflammation, in triggering disease progression and, ultimately, the destabilization that causes acute coronary syndromes. PMID:27273431
Modern risk stratification in coronary heart disease
Ginghina, C.; Bejan, I.; Ceck, C.D.
The prevalence and impact of cardiovascular diseases in the world are growing. There are 2 million deaths due to cardiovascular disease each year in the European Union; the main cause of death being the coronary heart disease responsible for 16% of deaths in men and 15% in women. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Romania is estimated at 7 million people, of which 2.8 million have ischemic heart disease. In this epidemiological context, risk stratification is required for individualization of therapeutic strategies for each patient. The continuing evolution of the diagnosis and treatment techniques combines personalized medicine with the trend of therapeutic management leveling, based on guidelines and consensus, which are in constant update. The guidelines used in clinical practice have involved risk stratification and identification of patient groups in whom the risk-benefit ratio of using new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques has a positive value. Presence of several risk factors may indicate a more important total risk than the presence / significant increase from normal values of a single risk factor. Modern trends in risk stratification of patients with coronary heart disease are polarized between the use of simple data versus complex scores, traditional data versus new risk factors, generally valid scores versus personalized scores, depending on patient characteristics, type of coronary artery disease, with impact on the suggested therapy. All known information and techniques can be integrated in a complex system of risk assessment. The current trend in risk assessment is to identify coronary artery disease in early forms, before clinical manifestation, and to guide therapy, particularly in patients with intermediate risk, which can be classified in another class of risk based on new obtained information. Abbreviations: ACS = acute coronary syndrome; AMI = acute myocardial infarction; BNP = brain natriuretic peptide; BP = blood pressure; BPs
[Anaphylactic reaction with coronary spasm following coronarography].
Ghannem, M; Marsepoil, T; Godard, S; Ho, P; Monthéli, J M; Lainée, R
The authors report a case of anaphylactic shock following the injection of iodinated contrast medium for coronary angiography and complicated by two spasms affecting segments II and III of the right coronary. Vasospasm was relieved by the injection of linsidomine, revealing an angiographically healthy segment III. Such complications associated with various substances, notably iodinated contrast media, are rare. They should nevertheless always be borne in mind when evaluating anaphylactic type reactions. Vasoactive mediators (histamine, serotonin, arachidonic acid metabolites) released by the allergic reaction appear to play a major role. Treatment based upon pathogenesis can be proposed.
Vascular grafting strategies in coronary intervention
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Knight, Darryl; Gillies, Elizabeth; Mequanint, Kibret
With the growing need for coronary revascularizations globally, several strategies to restore blood flow to the heart have been explored. Bypassing the atherosclerotic coronary arteries with autologous grafts, synthetic prostheses and tissue-engineered vascular grafts continue to be evaluated in search of a readily available vascular graft with clinically acceptable outcomes. The development of such a vascular graft including tissue engineering approaches both in situ and in vitro is herein reviewed, facilitating a detailed comparison on the role of seeded cells in vascular graft patency.
Foreign body mimicking acute coronary syndrome.
Havrankova, Enikö; Stenová, Emöke; Filkova, Marta
The article presents a case study of a 37-year-old male who was admitted to the Acute Cardiology Unit of our hospital with suspicion of acute coronary syndrome. By invasive imaging examination, acute coronary syndrome was ruled out, but as a secondary finding a foreign body was found in the pericardium - a broken needle that had travelled to the heart after intravenous heroin administration into the right femoral vein, which was also confirmed on a computed tomography scan. Because of a developing pericardial tamponade, surgical intervention and the extraction of the foreign body was indicated. PMID:24640524
Genetic research in coronary heart disease.
Motulsky, A G
Coronary heart disease research along genetic lines is difficult. Studies in molecular genetics of apolipoprotein and receptor variability appear most promising in the near future. However, unexpected discoveries and methodology may turn up that may completely change the field. Exclusive concentration on lipid research therefore should be avoided. It is likely that most advances will come from carefully designed studies that ask specific questions. Such research design is appropriate not only for laboratory studies but also for clinical and epidemiological investigations. The collaboration of clinicians, biochemists, geneticists, epidemiologists, and statisticians is likely to lead to better understanding of coronary heart disease.
Coronary CT Angiography in Heavily Calcified Coronary Arteries: Improvement of Coronary Lumen Visualization and Coronary Stenosis Assessment With Image Postprocessing Methods.
Sun, Zhonghua; Ng, Curtise K C; Xu, Lei; Fan, Zhanming; Lei, Jing
To compare the diagnostic value of coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with use of 2 image postprocessing methods (CCTA_S) and (CCTA_OS) and original data (CCTA_O) for the assessment of heavily calcified plaques. Fifty patients (41 men, 9 women; mean age 61.9 years ± 9.1) with suspected coronary artery disease who underwent CCTA and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) examinations were included in the study. Image data were postprocessed with "sharpen" and smooth reconstruction algorithms in comparison with the original data without undergoing any image postprocessing to determine the effects on suppressing blooming artifacts due to heavy calcification in the coronary arteries. Minimal lumen diameter and degree of stenosis were measured and compared between CCTA_S, CCTA_OS, and CCTA_O with ICA as the reference method. The area under the curve (AUC) by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis (ROC) was also compared among these 3 CCTA techniques. On a per-vessel assessment, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value, and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 100% (95% CI: 89%, 100%), 33% (95% CI: 22%, 45%), 41% (95% CI: 30%, 53%), 100% (95% CI: 85%, 100%) for CCTA_O, 94% (95% CI: 79%, 99%), 66% (95% CI: 54%, 77%), 57% (95% CI: 43%, 70%), and 95% (95% CI: 85%, 99%) for CCTA_S, 94% (95% CI: 79%, 99%), 44% (95% CI: 32%, 57%), 44% (95% CI: 32%, 57%), and 97% (95% CI: 79%, 99%) for CCTA_OS, respectively. The AUC by ROC curve analysis for CCTA_S showed significant improvement for detection of >50% coronary stenosis in left anterior descending coronary artery compared to that of CCTA_OS and CCTA_O methods (P < 0.05), with no significance differences for detection of coronary stenosis in the left circumflex and right coronary arteries (P > 0.05).CCTA with "sharpen" reconstruction reduces blooming artifacts from heavy calcification, thus, leading to significant improvement of specificity and positive predictive value of CCTA in
Response of human coronary arteries at different mechanical conditions.
Atienza, J M
The lack of reliable mechanical data on coronary arteries hampers the application of numerical models to vascular problems, and precludes physicians from knowing in advance the response of coronary arteries to the different interventions. In this work, the mechanical properties of human coronary arteries have been characterized. Whole samples from human right (RC) and left anterior descending (LAD) coronary arteries aged between 23 and 83 years have been studied by means of in-vitro tensile testing up to failure. Knowledge of the mechanical response of human coronary arteries could be applied to optimize the election of vascular grafts or to prevent arterial damage during angioplasty.
Imaging of acquired coronary diseases: From children to adults.
Dehaene, A; Jacquier, A; Falque, C; Gorincour, G; Gaubert, J Y
Acquired coronary diseases include aneurysms, fistulae, dissections, and stenosis. Aneurysms may occur secondarily to Kawasaki disease, a childhood vasculitis, the prognosis of which depends on the coronary involvement, or they may be degenerative, infectious, inflammatory, or traumatic in origin. Fistulae develop between the coronary arterial system and a pulmonary or bronchial artery, or cardiac cavity. Dissections may occur spontaneously or may be post-traumatic. These coronary abnormalities may be found incidentally or may present as complications, infarction or rupture. The goals of this article are to understand acquired childhood and adult coronary diseases and their usual means of presentation, the ways of investigating them, and the principles of their treatment. PMID:27130480
[Coronary effects of left ventricular hypertrophy associated with hypertension].
Trimarco, B; de Luca, N; Ricciardelli, B; Rosiello, G; Lembo, G; Rendina, V; Raponi, M; Marchegiano, R; Volpe, M
Left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to hypertension has been associated with a reduction of maximum coronary flow per unit mass as shown by the increase in the minimal threshold of coronary vascular resistance per gramme. This phenomenon has usually been attributed to an increase in muscle mass with absent or inadequate vascular compensation. However, chronic hypertension may induce a function reduction in coronary flow. In particular, it has been recently shown that coronary vascular resistances are influenced by a cardio-cardiac reflex involving the baroreceptor response. Left ventricular hypertrophy could alter the function of the ventricular receptors and favourise myocardial ischemia by preventing the adaptation of coronary flow to myocardial metabolic demands.
Adjunctive intra-coronary imaging for the assessment of coronary artery disease
Shah, Nikunj; Ussen, Bassey
Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease remains a leading cause of worldwide morbidity and mortality. Invasive angiography currently remains the gold standard method of diagnosing and treating coronary disease; however, more sophisticated adjunctive interventional technologies have been developed to combat the inter and intra-observer variability frequently encountered in the assessment of lesion severity. Intravascular imaging now plays a key role in optimising percutaneous coronary interventions and provides invaluable information as part of the interventional cardiologist's diagnostic arsenal. The principles, technical aspects and uses of two modalities of intracoronary imaging, intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, are discussed. We additionally provide examples of cases where the adjunctive intracoronary imaging was superior to angiography alone in successfully identifying and treating acute coronary syndromes. PMID:27540480
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Single Coronary Artery from Right Sinus: Radial Route is Right
Mahla, Rakesh; Mahla, Himanshu; Choudhary, Dinesh; Nahata, Pintu
We present percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using radial approach in a rare case of single coronary artery originating from the right sinus. Although these anomalies and stenosis of anomalous vessels have been described previously, treatment of atherosclerotic lesions by PCI has rarely been reported. There is a definite procedural risk during PCI in patients with a single ostium because dissection with the guiding catheter would result in a catastrophic event. Additionally, technical difficulties may occur due to the ostial configuration and course of the branch to be stented. The patient suffered an acute coronary syndrome-inferior wall STEMI, and was thrombolysed elsewhere within a window period of 4 h. He had post myocardial infarction (MI) angina and was referred to our center after 3 days of thrombolysis. We present this technically challenging and rare case in which PCI of right coronary artery was performed through the radial route. PMID:26713181
Statins and percutaneous coronary intervention: a complementary synergy.
Echeverri, Darío; Cabrales, Jaime
The inclusion of statins and stents in coronary disease management during the 1980s has marked a dramatic change in the natural history of the disease. Separately, each of these therapies have progressed rapidly and have achieved a prime position in the current armamentarium. The simultaneous use of statins in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary revascularization procedures with stent implantation has shown a significant beneficial synergistic effect by reducing ischemia and necrosis, and improving coronary blood flow in patients with stable coronary disease, as well as in acute coronary syndromes. The use of high dose statins in conjunction with coronary angioplasty with stent implantation has shown great efficacy and safety in patients with severe coronary disease. PMID:24079365
Spontaneous multi-focal coronary artery spasm: a case report
Ostovan, Mohammad Ali; Khanian, Mahdi Sajedi; Hamidi, Sahand; Fattahi, Mostafa; Dehghani, Pooyan
Spontaneous coronary artery vasospasm is one of the important causes of acute chest pain syndromes. The diagnosis of diffuse multifocal spasm can be quite challenging and it could be easily mistaken for diffuse coronary artery disease. The use of intracoronary nitroglycerin can relieve spasm and reveal the real extent of coronary artery disease. Herein we present a case presenting with acute myocardial infarction due to severe coronary artery spasm that had even received fibrinolytic therapy. Multiple narrowing was shown during coronary angiography and the patient was scheduled for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). But after intracoronary (IC) injection of nitroglycerin, all of lesions disappeared completely and the diagnosis of coronary spasm was confirmed. PMID:27777700
Diagnostic Accuracy of Coronary Calcium Score Less than 100 in Excluding Coronary Artery Disease
Hanifehpour, Reza; Motevalli, Marzieh; Ghanaati, Hossein; Shahriari, Mona; Aliyari Ghasabeh, Mounes
Background Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is a quantitative assessment of calcifications and an established predictor of cardiovascular events. Objectives In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), specificity and sensitivity of CACS less than 100 in predicting significant coronary artery stenosis in patients with risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a vessel-based analysis. Patients and Methods A cross sectional study was carried out on a study population of 2527 consecutive stable patients with symptoms suggestive of CAD who were referred for coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). We performed 1343 studies with 256 slice machine in Shahid Rajaee hospital and the other studies were carried out with 64 slice machine in Imam Khomeini hospital and the calcium score was quantified according to the Agatston method. Results At the cutoff point of 100 for coronary calcium scoring, there was high specificity (87%), high sensitivity (79%), high efficiency (84%), high PPV (79%), and high NPV (87%) in the diagnosis of significant stenosis in the whole heart. The frequency of zero calcium scoring was 59% in normal or nonsignificant stenosis and 7.6% in significant stenosis in the whole heart. Calcium scoring increased with greater severity of the arterial stenosis (P values < 0.001). Conclusion We conclude that coronary calcium scoring provided useful information in the management of patients. In CACS less than 100, it has a NPV of 87% in excluding significant stenosis in patients with the risk of CAD but it does not have enough diagnostic accuracy for surely excluding coronary stenosis, so we should perform a combination of CACS and coronary CT angiography for patients.
Catheter ablation of accessory pathways near the coronary sinus: Value of defining coronary arterial anatomy
Mao, Jessica; Moriarty, John M.; Mandapati, Ravi; Boyle, Noel G.; Shivkumar, Kalyanam; Vaseghi, Marmar
BACKGROUND Accessory pathways can lie near or within the coronary sinus (CS). Radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways is a well-established treatment option, but this procedure can cause damage to adjacent coronary arteries. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anatomic relationship between the coronary arteries and the CS. METHODS Retrospective data of patients who underwent catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia between June 2011 and August 2013 was reviewed. In addition, detailed analysis of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) data from 50 patients was performed. RESULTS Between June 2011 and August 2013, 427 patients underwent catheter ablation of supraventricular tachycardia, of whom 105 (age 28 ± 17 years, 60% male) had accessory pathway–mediated tachycardia. Of these, 23 patients had accessory pathways near the CS, and 60% (N = 14) underwent concurrent coronary angiography. In 4 patients, the posterolateral (inferolateral) branch (PLA) of the right coronary artery was in close proximity to the CS, and 2 patients (18%) had stenosis of the PLA at the site of ablation. On CTA at their closest proximity, the PLA was 1.9 ± 1.3 mm and the left circumflex artery (LCx) was 2.0 ± 0.8 mm from the body of the CS, in right and left coronary artery–dominant patients, respectively. CS ostium and PLA were 3.6 ± 1.9 mm apart. In left-dominant patients, LCx and CS ostium were 3.8 ± 1.2 mm apart. CONCLUSION The PLA and LCx are in close proximity to the anteroinferior aspect of the CS ostium and proximal CS. The relationship of the CS and coronary arteries should be evaluated before ablation at these sites. PMID:25485779
Automatic centerline extraction of coronary arteries in coronary computed tomographic angiography.
Yang, Guanyu; Kitslaar, Pieter; Frenay, Michel; Broersen, Alexander; Boogers, Mark J; Bax, Jeroen J; Reiber, Johan H C; Dijkstra, Jouke
Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) is a non-invasive imaging modality for the visualization of the heart and coronary arteries. To fully exploit the potential of the CCTA datasets and apply it in clinical practice, an automated coronary artery extraction approach is needed. The purpose of this paper is to present and validate a fully automatic centerline extraction algorithm for coronary arteries in CCTA images. The algorithm is based on an improved version of Frangi's vesselness filter which removes unwanted step-edge responses at the boundaries of the cardiac chambers. Building upon this new vesselness filter, the coronary artery extraction pipeline extracts the centerlines of main branches as well as side-branches automatically. This algorithm was first evaluated with a standardized evaluation framework named Rotterdam Coronary Artery Algorithm Evaluation Framework used in the MICCAI Coronary Artery Tracking challenge 2008 (CAT08). It includes 128 reference centerlines which were manually delineated. The average overlap and accuracy measures of our method were 93.7% and 0.30 mm, respectively, which ranked at the 1st and 3rd place compared to five other automatic methods presented in the CAT08. Secondly, in 50 clinical datasets, a total of 100 reference centerlines were generated from lumen contours in the transversal planes which were manually corrected by an expert from the cardiology department. In this evaluation, the average overlap and accuracy were 96.1% and 0.33 mm, respectively. The entire processing time for one dataset is less than 2 min on a standard desktop computer. In conclusion, our newly developed automatic approach can extract coronary arteries in CCTA images with excellent performances in extraction ability and accuracy. PMID:21637981
Coronary anatomy, anatomic variations and anomalies: a retrospective coronary angiography study
Altin, Cihan; Kanyilmaz, Suleyman; Koc, Sahbender; Gursoy, Yusuf Cemil; Bal, Uğur; Aydinalp, Alp; Yildirir, Aylin; Muderrisoglu, Haldun
INTRODUCTION The incidence of coronary artery anomalies (CAAs) varies from 0.2% to 8.4%. Knowledge of such anatomical variations is important as coronary procedures are regularly performed these days. We aimed to find the coronary dominance pattern, intermediate artery (IMA) frequency and CAA incidence in our clinic, and compare them to those in the literature. METHODS The medical reports of 5,548 patients who had undergone coronary angiography (CAG) between 2005 and 2009 were retrospectively investigated. Dominance pattern and presence of IMA and CAA were recorded. CAAs were described using two different classifications: Angelini and Khatami's classification, and a new modified classification that was derived from Angelini and Khatami's classification. Some procedural details and clinical features of the patients with CAA were also investigated. RESULTS Coronary dominance pattern was: 81.6% right coronary artery, 12.2% circumflex artery and 6.2% co-dominant. IMA was present in 613 (11.0%) patients. The incidences of overall anomaly were 2.7% and 1.4%, according to the different classifications. Absent left main coronary artery, which was the most common anomaly in the present study, was found in 51 (0.9%) patients. Incidences of myocardial bridge, coronary arteriovenous fistulae and aneurysms were 1.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION CAAs are generally asymptomatic, isolated lesions. Some may lead to anginal symptoms, myocardial infarction or sudden death. We found that CAA was associated with increased radiation and contrast exposure in patients who underwent CAG. This risk could be reduced if appropriate catheters were designed and training programmes on ostial cannulation were developed. PMID:25502334
[Measurement of the diameter of coronary arteries and coronary stenoses. Presentation of 2 methods].
Bertrand, M E; Lablanche, J M; Thieuleux, F A; Fourrier, J L; Tratsnel, G
This work consists of the presentation of two methods of quantitative coronary angiography: the first is simple to implement, cheap and offers a routine method for a more precise evaluation of stenoses than simple visual estimation. The second is more interesting if one wishes to measure the diameter of coronaries and attain a satisfactory degree of precision compared to semi-automatic methods using image digitalisation. PMID:4083772
Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Coronary Thrombo-embolism during Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty in a Pregnant Woman.
Chikkabasavaiah, Nagamani; Rajendran, Ravindran; P, Beeresha; B, Ramesh
Coronary embolism as a cause of acute myocardial infarction is considered rarer than it actually is because of the difficulties associated with its documentation. Equally rare is the event of a clot embolising to the coronary artery during balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV). We had a unique and a rare opportunity to encounter, recognise, document and successfully manage this rare complication during BMV in a pregnant woman. PMID:26602228
Fate of Patients With Coronary Perforation Complicating Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (from the Euro Heart Survey Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry).
Bauer, Timm; Boeder, Niklas; Nef, Holger M; Möllmann, Helge; Hochadel, Matthias; Marco, Jean; Weidinger, Franz; Zeymer, Uwe; Gitt, Anselm K; Hamm, Christian W
Coronary perforation (CP) is a life-threatening complication that can occur during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Little is known, however, about the incidence and clinical outcome of CP. We sought to investigate the occurrence of CP and its determinants and risk profile in a large-scale, prospective registry. From 2005 to 2008, unselected patients (n = 42,068) from 175 centers in 33 countries who underwent a PCI procedure were prospectively enrolled in the PCI registry of the Euro Heart Survey program. For the present analysis, patients experiencing CP during PCI (n = 124, 0.3%) were compared with those who underwent PCI without CP. Patients with CP were older, more often women, had more severe coronary disease, and underwent more complex types of coronary intervention. Independent factors associated with CP were the use of rotablation, intravascular ultrasound-guided PCI, bypass PCI, a totally occluded vessel, a type C lesion, peripheral arterial disease, and body mass index <25. More than 10% of the patients developed cardiac tamponade. In a small minority (3.3%), emergency bypass surgery had to be performed. The inhospital death rate was markedly elevated in patients with CP (7.3% vs 1.5%, p <0.001). After adjustment for the EuroHeart score, CP remained a strong predictor of hospital mortality (odds ratio 5.21, 95% confidence interval 2.34 to 11.60). In conclusion, in this real world, all-comers registry, the incidence of CP was low, occurred more often in patients who underwent more complex coronary interventions, and was associated with a fivefold higher hospital mortality. PMID:26341189
Fate of Patients With Coronary Perforation Complicating Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (from the Euro Heart Survey Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry).
Bauer, Timm; Boeder, Niklas; Nef, Holger M; Möllmann, Helge; Hochadel, Matthias; Marco, Jean; Weidinger, Franz; Zeymer, Uwe; Gitt, Anselm K; Hamm, Christian W
Coronary perforation (CP) is a life-threatening complication that can occur during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Little is known, however, about the incidence and clinical outcome of CP. We sought to investigate the occurrence of CP and its determinants and risk profile in a large-scale, prospective registry. From 2005 to 2008, unselected patients (n = 42,068) from 175 centers in 33 countries who underwent a PCI procedure were prospectively enrolled in the PCI registry of the Euro Heart Survey program. For the present analysis, patients experiencing CP during PCI (n = 124, 0.3%) were compared with those who underwent PCI without CP. Patients with CP were older, more often women, had more severe coronary disease, and underwent more complex types of coronary intervention. Independent factors associated with CP were the use of rotablation, intravascular ultrasound-guided PCI, bypass PCI, a totally occluded vessel, a type C lesion, peripheral arterial disease, and body mass index <25. More than 10% of the patients developed cardiac tamponade. In a small minority (3.3%), emergency bypass surgery had to be performed. The inhospital death rate was markedly elevated in patients with CP (7.3% vs 1.5%, p <0.001). After adjustment for the EuroHeart score, CP remained a strong predictor of hospital mortality (odds ratio 5.21, 95% confidence interval 2.34 to 11.60). In conclusion, in this real world, all-comers registry, the incidence of CP was low, occurred more often in patients who underwent more complex coronary interventions, and was associated with a fivefold higher hospital mortality.
Coronary leukocyte activation in relation to progression of coronary artery disease.
de Vries, Marijke A; Alipour, Arash; Birnie, Erwin; Westzaan, Andrew; van Santen, Selvetta; van der Zwan, Ellen; Liem, Anho H; van der Meulen, Noëlle; Cabezas, Manuel Castro
Leukocyte activation has been linked to atherogenesis, but there is little in vivo evidence for its role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We evaluated the predictive value for progression of coronary artery disease (CAD) of leukocyte activation markers in the coronary circulation. Monocyte and neutrophil CD11b, neutrophil CD66b expression and intracellular neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) in the coronary arteries were determined by flow cytometry in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The primary outcome included fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction or arterial vascular intervention due to unstable angina pectoris. In total 99 subjects who were included, 70 had CAD at inclusion (26 patients had single-vessel disease, 18 patients had twovessel disease and 26 patients had three-vessel disease). The median follow-up duration was 2242 days (interquartile range: 2142-2358). During follow-up, 13 patients (13%) developed progression of CAD. Monocyte CD11b, neutrophil CD11b and CD66b expression and intracellular MPO measured in blood obtained from the coronary arteries were not associated with the progression of CAD. These data indicate that coronary monocyte CD11b, neutrophil CD11b and CD66b expression and intracellular MPO do not predict the risk of progression of CAD. PMID:26831871
[Congenital anomalies of coronary artery origin: a diagnostic challenge].
Iñiguez Romo, A; Macaya Miquel, C; Alfonso Monterola, F; San Román Calvar, J A; Goikolea Ruiz-Gómez, J; Zarco Gutiérrez, P
From a series of 4,313 consecutive patients who underwent a diagnostic coronary angiogram, 16 (0.37%) presented a congenital anomalous origin of the coronary arteries. None of these patients had other congenital cardiac anomalies associated. Age was 57 +/- 9 years and 13 (81%) were male. The diagnostic catheterization was performed for unstable angina in 8 patients (50%), for stable angina in five (32%), for dyspnea in two and for atypical chest pain in the remaining patient. A previous myocardial infarction was present in 6 patients (37%) whereas one patient had apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We observed absence of coronary lesions in 4 patients and severe coronary stenosis lesions in 12 patients (75%), five of those with lesions located in the anomalous vessel. The most frequent abnormality found was an anomalous origin of left circumflex coronary artery in 8 cases (50%), followed by an abnormal origin of the right coronary artery in 5 cases (31%), and an abnormal origin of the left coronary tree in 3 cases (19%) (left anterior descending coronary artery arising from the right coronary artery, a single coronary artery which originated in the left coronary sinus, and a left main coronary artery which originated in the noncoronary sinus). The relationship of the anomalous coronary artery to the great vessels was the following: A retro-aortic course in 11 patient (69%), by the anterior free wall in two (12.5%), interarterial in two (12.5%), and septal in one (6%). Finally, as an index of the difficulty to visualize the anomalous coronary artery, an unusual catheter was needed in six (37%) of the diagnostic procedures to reach the target vessel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Secondary coronary artery vasospasm promotes cardiomyopathy progression.
Wheeler, Matthew T; Korcarz, Claudia E; Collins, Keith A; Lapidos, Karen A; Hack, Andrew A; Lyons, Matthew R; Zarnegar, Sara; Earley, Judy U; Lang, Roberto M; McNally, Elizabeth M
Genetic defects in the plasma membrane-associated sarcoglycan complex produce cardiomyopathy characterized by focal degeneration. The infarct-like pattern of cardiac degeneration has led to the hypothesis that coronary artery vasospasm underlies cardiomyopathy in this disorder. We evaluated the coronary vasculature of gamma-sarcoglycan mutant mice and found microvascular filling defects consistent with arterial vasospasm. However, the vascular smooth muscle sarcoglycan complex was intact in the coronary arteries of gamma-sarcoglycan hearts with perturbation of the sarcoglycan complex only within the adjacent myocytes. Thus, in this model, coronary artery vasospasm derives from a vascular smooth muscle-cell extrinsic process. To reduce this secondary vasospasm, we treated gamma-sarcoglycan-deficient mice with the calcium channel antagonist verapamil. Verapamil treatment eliminated evidence of vasospasm and ameliorated histological and functional evidence of cardiomyopathic progression. Echocardiography of verapamil-treated, gamma-sarcoglycan-null mice showed an improvement in left ventricular fractional shortening (44.3 +/- 13.3% treated versus 37.4 +/- 15.3% untreated), maximal velocity at the aortic outflow tract (114.9 +/- 27.9 cm/second versus 92.8 +/- 22.7 cm/second), and cardiac index (1.06 +/- 0.30 ml/minute/g versus 0.67 +/- 0.16 ml/minute/g, P < 0.05). These data indicate that secondary vasospasm contributes to the development of cardiomyopathy and is an important therapeutic target to limit cardiomyopathy progression.
Lipoprotein subspecies and risk of coronary disease.
Musliner, T A; Krauss, R M
This review summarizes physical and chemical properties of major subspecies of very-low-, low-, intermediate, and high-density lipoproteins. Hypotheses regarding the metabolic origins of these subspecies and evidence for their associations with risk of coronary artery disease are presented.
Cellular Precursors of the Coronary Arteries
Muñoz-Chápuli, Ramón; González-Iriarte, Mauricio; Carmona, Rita; Atencia, Gerardo; Macías, David; Pérez-Pomares, José María
Coronary vessels develop from a primary vascular network that differentiates in the subepicardium through a process of vasculogenesis, that is, self-assembly of mesenchymal vascular progenitors. Further growth of the subepicardial vascular plexus through a complex process of angiogenesis, vascular remodeling, and arterialization of specific branches gives rise to the definitive coronary system. This report is intended to summarize current knowledge on the origin of the coronary vascular progenitors and to provide new insights suggested by recent findings. It has been established that the mesenchymal precursors of the vascular smooth muscle cells and the adventitial fibroblasts originate from an epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of the epicardial mesothelium. We report herein experimental evidence that the precursors of the coronary endothelium are also epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs). The evidence shown includes co-localization of mesothelial and endothelial molecular markers as well as cell lineage studies performed through direct labeling of the epicardial cells. If this proposal is confirmed, the early EPDCs might be found to have a competence similar to that shown by the recently discovered bipotential vascular progenitor cells, which are able to differentiate into endothelium or smooth muscle depending on their exposure to VEGF or PDGF-BB. It is conceivable that the earliest EPDCs differentiate into endothelial cells in response to myocardially secreted VEGF, while subsequent EPDCs, recruited by the nascent capillaries via PDGFRβ signaling, differentiate into pericytes and smooth muscle cells. (Tex Heart Inst J 2002;29:243–9) PMID:12484607
Smoking, Stress, and Coronary Heart Disease.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Epstein, Leonard H.; Perkins, Kenneth A.
Focuses on the interrelation between stressors and smoking, and on its potential impact on coronary heart disease risk beyond that due to stressors or to smoking alone. Reviews evidence supporting the stress-smoking interrelationship, its relevance to the risk of heart disease, and mechanisms explaining why smokers smoke more during stress and why…
[Peripheral artery disease and acute coronary syndrome].
Martínez-Quintana, Efrén; Rodríguez-González, Fayna
Peripheral arterial disease is a common manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis that is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. When presented in the context of an acute coronary syndrome a differential diagnosis with aorta dissection should be made, because peripheral arterial disease may be asymptomatic despite the absence or asymmetry of femoral pulses.
Psychosocial factors in coronary heart disease
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
French, J. R. P., Jr.; Chaplan, R. D.
The relationship between job satisfaction and coronary heart disease is explored for blue and white collar groups, different personalities and physiological risk factors. Differences found among administrators, engineers and scientists with regard to variables associated with heart disease are in terms of physiology, personality, reported job stress, and smoking.
Coronary air embolism during mitral valvuloplasty.
Rifaie, Osama; Nammas, Wail
A 30-year-old male with a history of rheumatic mitral valve disease presented with progressive exertional dyspnoea. Echocardiography revealed a mitral valve area of 1 cm2, a mitral valve score of 6/16, and absence of mitral regurgitation. Percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty was performed using the multitrack technique. Unexpectedly, one balloon suddenly ruptured during a second inflation. The patient experienced severe chest pain and shock. The electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, and aFV. Prompt resuscitation was performed and right coronary angiography showed a bubble of air trapped at the crux of the right coronary artery, with loss of myocardial blush.The operator injected 100 mcg of nitroglycerin inside the right coronary, followed by intracoronary infusion of normal saline. Ultimately, right coronary angiography revealed that the air was successfully cleared off the artery, with TIMI grade 3 flow and, return of myocardial blush. Eventually, chest pain disappeared, with a favourable haemodynamic condition. PMID:22032066
[Robot-assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting].
Ishikawa, Norihiko; Watanabe, Go
The application for robot-assisted coronary surgery ranges from internal thoracic artery (ITA) harvesting with hand-sewn anastomoses to totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass grafting (TECAB), either on- or off-pump. The bilateral IMA can be harvested with the aid of a surgical robot and then multivessel bypass grafting can follow. Such robot-assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting is called "ThoraCAB". Surgical robots cannot only endoscopically harvest the ITA but they can also anastomose the coronary artery in TECAB. But TECAB still has the difficulties, such as narrow surgical field in Japanese patients. Both procedures have the significant advantages of minimizing surgical trauma, such as reduced comlications, faster return back to normal activities and being improved cosmesis, and which have resulted in the development of minimally invasive surgery. Robot-assisted cardiac surgery for structural heart disease has been approved by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) since December 2015, however, robot-assisted cardiac surgery for TECAB has not been approved yet in Japan. PMID:27440015
Cardiac retractor for coronary bypass operations.
Rousou, J A; Engelman, R M; Flack, J E; Deaton, D W
The Thompson retractor, used mainly for abdominal procedures, has been used to retract the heart and facilitate exposure for the performance of inferior wall or posterolateral wall coronary anastomoses. It has been found to be very effective and can replace a second assistant to retract the heart or avoid other cumbersome methods of cardiac retraction.
Coronary artery stents: advances in technology.
Sheth, Sameer D; Giugliano, Robert P
The introduction of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the late 1970s revolutionized the management of stable and unstable coronary artery disease, providing an effective, quick, safe, and increasingly widely available method for coronary revascularization for many patients. Rapid development in this field led to the introduction of a number of new technologies, including intracoronary stents that have resulted in improved efficacy and long-term safety. In this manuscript we review the experience with the 2 major available classes of stents (bare metal [BMS], drug-eluting [DES]) and describe the delivery systems for these stents. An evidence review of the large trial data comparing balloon angioplasty, BMS, and DES demonstrates the incremental advances over time, with the latest generation of DES achieving the lowest rates of restenosis, stent thrombosis, and recurrent myocardial infarction. In addition, we provide an overview of the latest developments in stent technology, including the introduction of bioresorbable stents and new stent delivery systems. These latest advances are hoped to further improve outcomes while reducing costs due to a reduction in the need for future procedures and hospitalizations due to recurrent coronary disease.
Coronary involvement in Churg-Strauss syndrome.
Dendramis, Gregory; Paleologo, Claudia; Piraino, Davide; Arrotti, Salvatore; Assennato, Pasquale
Systemic autoimmune diseases are themselves a relevant and independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and coronary ectasia. We describe a case of a 58-year-old Caucasian man who was admitted to our department for unstable angina. History of asthma, paranasal sinus abnormality, and peripheral eosinophilia given a high suspicion of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS). Diagnosis was performed with 5 of the 6 American College of Rheumatology criteria. The knowledge that CSS is often associated with significant coronary artery involvement and the persistence of chest pain led us to performing immediately a coronary angiography. Coronary angiography showed diffuse ectasic lesions, chronic occlusion of left anterior descending artery with homocoronary collateral circulation from left circumflex artery and subocclusive stenosis in the proximal tract of posterior descending artery. The early recognition of CSS, an aggressive invasive diagnostic approach, and an early appropriate therapy are important to prevent the progressive and permanent cardiac damage in these patients. In the setting of a multidisciplinary approach, careful cardiac assessment is an essential step in CSS, even in mildly symptomatic patients. PMID:26702692
The Defense Mechanisms of Coronary Patients.
ERIC Educational Resources Information Center
Peglar, Marian; Borgen, Fred H.
Tested 73 male inpatients with coronary heart disease on the Defense Mechanisms Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and a perception of health measure. Subjects were followed for five years. Principalization was discovered to be the most successful and projection the least successful defense. (JAC)
Bilateral nonfistulous congenital coronary arterial aneurysms.
Wilson, C S; Weaver, W F; Zeman, E D; Forker, A D
A 15 year old boy collapsed and died after participating in a basketball game. Autopsy revealed bilateral congenital coronary arterial aneurysms. The diagnosis was made post mortem but, retrospectively, might have been suspected during life, even before angiography. The clues to the correct diagnosis were chest pain, a systolic and diastolic murmur and a mass on the right heart border in the chest roentgenogram.
Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Does Not Accurately Predict the Need of Coronary Revascularization in Patients with Stable Angina
Hong, Sung-Jin; Her, Ae-Young; Suh, Yongsung; Won, Hoyoun; Cho, Deok-Kyu; Cho, Yun-Hyeong; Yoon, Young-Won; Lee, Kyounghoon; Kang, Woong Chol; Kim, Yong Hoon; Kim, Sang-Wook; Shin, Dong-Ho; Kim, Jung-Sun; Kim, Byeong-Keuk; Ko, Young-Guk; Choi, Byoung-Wook; Choi, Donghoon; Jang, Yangsoo
Purpose To evaluate the ability of coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) to predict the need of coronary revascularization in symptomatic patients with stable angina who were referred to a cardiac catheterization laboratory for coronary revascularization. Materials and Methods Pre-angiography CCTA findings were analyzed in 1846 consecutive symptomatic patients with stable angina, who were referred to a cardiac catheterization laboratory at six hospitals and were potential candidates for coronary revascularization between July 2011 and December 2013. The number of patients requiring revascularization was determined based on the severity of coronary stenosis as assessed by CCTA. This was compared to the actual number of revascularization procedures performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Results Based on CCTA findings, coronary revascularization was indicated in 877 (48%) and not indicated in 969 (52%) patients. Of the 877 patients indicated for revascularization by CCTA, only 600 (68%) underwent the procedure, whereas 285 (29%) of the 969 patients not indicated for revascularization, as assessed by CCTA, underwent the procedure. When the coronary arteries were divided into 15 segments using the American Heart Association coronary tree model, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of CCTA for therapeutic decision making on a per-segment analysis were 42%, 96%, 40%, and 96%, respectively. Conclusion CCTA-based assessment of coronary stenosis severity does not sufficiently differentiate between coronary segments requiring revascularization versus those not requiring revascularization. Conventional coronary angiography should be considered to determine the need of revascularization in symptomatic patients with stable angina. PMID:27401637
Novel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Techniques for Revascularizing Chronically Occluded Giant Coronary Aneurysms in a Patient with Kawasaki Disease.
Steinberg, Zachary L; Jones, Thomas K; Lombardi, William L
Kawasaki disease is a self-limiting vasculitis presenting in childhood that can lead to aneurysms of the coronary arteries. Patients who develop giant coronary aneurysms have a high incidence of coronary stenoses and occlusions resulting in myocardial ischemia. The mainstay of treatment for these lesions is surgical bypass due to complex coronary anatomy and a high rate of chronic total occlusions precluding traditional percutaneous coronary intervention techniques. We report the first successful percutaneous revascularization of two chronically occluded giant coronary aneurysms using the Hybrid Interventional Strategy for approaching chronic total occlusions. Both antegrade and retrograde dissection-reentry techniques were employed to fully revascularize two major epicardial arteries. Despite procedural success, longer-term vessel patency was not maintained following stent deployment highlighting the difficulty in maintaining durable results with percutaneous coronary intervention in this patient population. PMID:27393479
Congenital absence of left circumflex coronary artery presented with vasospastic angina and myocardial bridge in single left coronary artery.
Yoon, Young Kyung; Rha, Seung-Woon; Na, Jin Oh; Suh, Soon Yong; Choi, Cheol Ung; Kim, Jin Won; Kim, Eung Ju; Park, Chang Gyu; Seo, Hong Seog; Oh, Dong Joo
Congenital absence of left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) is a very rare congenital anomaly of the coronary circulation, and few cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 48-year-old male who had congenital absence of LCX presented with vasospastic angina. Routine coronary angiography showed congenital absence of the LCX, typical myocardial bridge in the mid left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and super-dominant right coronary artery (RCA). The dominant LAD showed a spastic appearance at the baseline coronary angiography and significant spasm was induced by incremental intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) provocation test at mid LAD where the myocardial bridge site was observed and was extended to the distal LAD. Typical anginal chest pain was documented during the Ach provocation test and the patient was stabilized with conventional anti-anginal medication. Precise morphological and functional evaluation of the anomalous coronary artery is important for selecting the best treatment modality and better prognosis.
Oxidative stress in coronary artery bypass surgery
Dias, Amaury Edgardo Mont'Serrat Ávila Souza; Melnikov, Petr; Cônsolo, Lourdes Zélia Zanoni
Objective The aim of this prospective study was to assess the dynamics of oxidative stress during coronary artery bypass surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods Sixteen patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled. Blood samples were collected from the systemic circulation during anesthesia induction (radial artery - A1), the systemic venous return (B1 and B2) four minutes after removal of the aortic cross-clamping, of the coronary sinus (CS1 and CS2) four minutes after removal of the aortic cross-clamping and the systemic circulation four minutes after completion of cardiopulmonary bypass (radial artery - A2). The marker of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde, was measured using spectrophotometry. Results The mean values of malondialdehyde were (ng/dl): A1 (265.1), B1 (490.0), CS1 (527.0), B2 (599.6), CS2 (685.0) and A2 (527.2). Comparisons between A1/B1, A1/CS1, A1/B2, A1/CS2, A1/A2 were significant, with ascending values (P<0.05). Comparisons between the measurements of the coronary sinus and venous reservoir after the two moments of reperfusion (B1/B2 and CS1/CS2) were higher when CS2 (P<0.05). Despite higher values after the end of cardiopulmonary bypass (A2), when compared to samples of anesthesia (A1), those show a downward trend when compared to the samples of the second moment of reperfusion (CS2) (P<0.05). Conclusion The measurement of malondialdehyde shows that coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass is accompanied by increase of free radicals and this trend gradually decreases after its completion. Aortic clamping exacerbates oxidative stress but has sharper decline after reperfusion when compared to systemic metabolism. The behavior of thiobarbituric acid species indicates that oxidative stress is an inevitable pathophysiological component. PMID:27163415
Coronary artery diameter can be assessed reliably with transthoracic echocardiography.
Kiviniemi, Tuomas O; Saraste, Markku; Koskenvuo, Juha W; Airaksinen, K E Juhani; Toikka, Jyri O; Saraste, Antti; Pärkkä, Jussi P; Hartiala, Jaakko J
We studied whether diameters of coronary arteries can be measured accurately with the use of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). By knowing the anatomic diameter of the coronary artery together with coronary flow velocity it is possible to measure coronary flow volume more precisely by TTE. However, the suitability of TTE for measurement of diameters of all main epicardial coronary arteries has not been systematically validated. We measured the diameters of the left main (LM), left anterior descending (LAD), left circumflex (LCX), and right coronary arteries (RCA) with the use of TTE [manual two-dimensional (2D), color-Doppler, and automated 2D analysis] in 30 patients who had normal coronary anatomy. We compared these diameters to those measured with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA). We could measure diameters of LM, LAD, LCX, and RCA by TTE in up to 37%, 63%, 7%, and 60% of patients, respectively. The overall correlation coefficients between TTE and QCA measurements were 0.83 (P < 0.01) with manual 2D analysis, 0.82 (P < 0.01) with automated 2D analysis, and 0.94 (P < 0.01) with a color-Doppler-based analysis. Interobserver variability of TTE measurements was low (coefficient of variation 5.4 +/- 4.6-7.5 +/- 8.8%). TTE is an accurate method to evaluate coronary artery diameter in patients with healthy coronary arteries.
Pressure-flow relations in coronary circulation.
Hoffman, J I; Spaan, J A
The blood vessels that run on the surface of the heart and through its muscle are compliant tubes that can be affected by the pressures external to them in at least two ways. If the pressure outside these vessels is higher than the pressure at their downstream ends, the vessels may collapse and become Starling resistors or vascular waterfalls. If this happens, the flow through these vessels depends on their resistance and the pressure drop from their inflow to the pressure around them and is independent of the actual downstream pressure. In the first part of this review, the physics of collapsible tubes is described, and the possible occurrences of vascular waterfalls in the body is evaluated. There is good evidence that waterfall behavior is seen in collateral coronary arteries and in extramural coronary veins, but the evidence that intramural coronary vessels act like vascular waterfalls is inconclusive. There is no doubt that in systole there are high tissue pressures around the intramyocardial vessels, particularly in the subendocardial muscle of the left ventricle. The exact nature and values of the forces that act at the surface of the small intramural vessels, however, are still not known. We are not certain whether radial (compressive) or circumferential and longitudinal (tensile) stresses are the major causes of vascular compression; the role of collagen struts in modifying the reaction of vessel walls to external pressures is unknown but possibly important; direct examination of small subepicardial vessels has failed to show vascular collapse. One of the arguments in favor of intramyocardial vascular waterfalls has been that during a long diastole the flow in the left coronary artery decreases and reaches zero when coronary arterial pressure is still high: it can be as much as 50 mmHg in the autoregulating left coronary arterial bed and approximately 15-20 mmHg even when the vessels have been maximally dilated. These high zero flow pressures, especially
Pressure-flow relations in coronary circulation.
Hoffman, J I; Spaan, J A
The blood vessels that run on the surface of the heart and through its muscle are compliant tubes that can be affected by the pressures external to them in at least two ways. If the pressure outside these vessels is higher than the pressure at their downstream ends, the vessels may collapse and become Starling resistors or vascular waterfalls. If this happens, the flow through these vessels depends on their resistance and the pressure drop from their inflow to the pressure around them and is independent of the actual downstream pressure. In the first part of this review, the physics of collapsible tubes is described, and the possible occurrences of vascular waterfalls in the body is evaluated. There is good evidence that waterfall behavior is seen in collateral coronary arteries and in extramural coronary veins, but the evidence that intramural coronary vessels act like vascular waterfalls is inconclusive. There is no doubt that in systole there are high tissue pressures around the intramyocardial vessels, particularly in the subendocardial muscle of the left ventricle. The exact nature and values of the forces that act at the surface of the small intramural vessels, however, are still not known. We are not certain whether radial (compressive) or circumferential and longitudinal (tensile) stresses are the major causes of vascular compression; the role of collagen struts in modifying the reaction of vessel walls to external pressures is unknown but possibly important; direct examination of small subepicardial vessels has failed to show vascular collapse. One of the arguments in favor of intramyocardial vascular waterfalls has been that during a long diastole the flow in the left coronary artery decreases and reaches zero when coronary arterial pressure is still high: it can be as much as 50 mmHg in the autoregulating left coronary arterial bed and approximately 15-20 mmHg even when the vessels have been maximally dilated. These high zero flow pressures, especially
Fibrinogen gene haplotypes in relation to risk of coronary events and coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis: the Rotterdam Study.
Kardys, Isabella; Uitterlinden, André G; Hofman, Albert; Witteman, Jacqueline C M; de Maat, Moniek P M
Fibrin network structure has been correlated with coronary disease. Fibrinogen gamma and alpha (FGG and FGA) gene haplotypes (chromosome 4q28) may be associated with fibrin network structure, and thereby with rigidity of the fibrin clot and sensitivity of the fibrin clot to the fibrinolytic system. Through these mechanisms they may influence risk of cardiovascular disease. We set out to investigate the relation between combined fibrinogen FGG and FGA gene haplotypes, representing the common variation of the fibrinogen FGG and FGA genes, coronary events and measures of coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis. The study was embedded in the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based study among men and women aged >or=55 years. Common haplotypes were studied using seven tagging SNPs across a 30-kb region with the FGG and FGA genes. Incident coronary events were registered, and carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, ankle-arm index, aortic calcification and coronary calcification were assessed. Seven haplotypes with frequencies >1% covered 97.5% of the genetic variation. In 5,667 participants without history of coronary heart disease (CHD), 733 CHD cases occurred during a median follow-up time of 11.9 years. Fibrinogen gene haplotypes were not associated with coronary events. Fibrinogen gene haplotypes did not show a consistent association with measures of coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis. In conclusion, fibrinogen FGG and FGA gene haplotypes are not associated with coronary events, coronary atherosclerosis or extracoronary atherosclerosis. Confirmation of these findings by future population-based studies is warranted.
Elevation of D-glucose impairs coronary artery autoregulation after slight reduction of coronary flow.
Wascher, T C; Bachernegg, M; Kickenweiz, E; Stark, G; Stark, U; Toplak, H; Graier, W F; Krejs, G J
Diabetes mellitus is thought to increase the susceptibility of tissue to hypoxic injury through D-glucose-induced alterations of intracellular metabolism. Therefore the effects of hyperglycaemia on coronary artery autoregulation under slight reduction of coronary flow were investigated in isolated perfused guinea-pig hearts. Under normal (10 mM) D-glucose concentrations coronary autoregulation was intact in response to a slight reduction of coronary flow (from 6 to 4.5 mL min-1) when L-arginine as a precursor of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF/NO) was available and formation of prostaglandines was intact. Under high (44 mM) D-glucose concentrations on the other hand, a sustained vasodilatation dependent on the availability of L-arginine was observed, when formation of prostaglandins was blocked. This effect was partially reduced in the presence of prostaglandin synthesis. Furthermore, the effect of L-arginine under both conditions could be antagonized by the L-arginine-analogue NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (100 microM). Our results suggest that hyperglycaemia impairs coronary artery autoregulation by reducing the threshold for hypoxic vasodilatation in an EDRF/NO-dependent manner. Concomitantly a shift from the formation of vasodilatatory to vasoconstrictive prostaglandines was observed. These results might be of particular interest in patients with diabetes mellitus and ischaemic heart disease.
An alternative technique for direct implantation of an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery with complex coronary arteries
Ishimaru, Kazuhiko; Araki, Kanta; Nakamura, Tsuneyuki; Sawa, Yoshiki
A 2-month-old patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) underwent an alternative repair involving coronary transfer with the bay window technique because of the very short left main coronary trunk. This procedure is a clinically relevant and feasible technique for ALCAPA with such a delicate coronary artery anomaly. PMID:27656197
An alternative technique for direct implantation of an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery with complex coronary arteries.
Ishimaru, Kazuhiko; Araki, Kanta; Nakamura, Tsuneyuki; Sawa, Yoshiki
A 2-month-old patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) underwent an alternative repair involving coronary transfer with the bay window technique because of the very short left main coronary trunk. This procedure is a clinically relevant and feasible technique for ALCAPA with such a delicate coronary artery anomaly. PMID:27656197
An alternative technique for direct implantation of an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery with complex coronary arteries
Ishimaru, Kazuhiko; Araki, Kanta; Nakamura, Tsuneyuki; Sawa, Yoshiki
A 2-month-old patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) underwent an alternative repair involving coronary transfer with the bay window technique because of the very short left main coronary trunk. This procedure is a clinically relevant and feasible technique for ALCAPA with such a delicate coronary artery anomaly.
[Cumulative effect of Coriolis acceleration on coronary hemodynamics].
Lapaev, E V; Bednenko, V S
Time-course variations in coronary circulation and cardiac output were measured in 29 healthy test subjects who performed tests with a continuous cumulation of Coriolis accelerations and in 12 healthy test subjects who were exposed to Coriolis accelerations combined with acute hypoxia. Adaptive changes in coronary circulation were seen. It is recommended to monitor coronary circulation during vestibulometric tests as part of medical expertise of the flying personnel.
Expanding pseudoaneurysm compressing the coronary arteries and causing cardiogenic shock.
Maliske, Seth M; Alshawabkeh, Laith; Schouweiler, Katie; Sigurdsson, Gardar
A 37-year-old man who recently underwent aortic valve replacement after endocarditis presented with cardiogenic shock. A large expansile pseudoaneurysm was subsequently discovered using multiple imaging modalities. Although transesophageal echocardiography is important in diagnosing valve endocarditis, coronary CT angiography of prosthetic valves is feasible and image quality is good. In this case, coronary CT angiography allowed for better understanding of transesophageal echocardiography images and earlier diagnosis of coronary involvement as cause for left ventricular dysfunction.
Successful Coronary Stent Retrieval From a Pedal Artery
Mariano, Enrica Versaci, Francesco; Gandini, Roberto; Simonetti, Giovanni; Di Vito, Livio; Romeo, Francesco
The purpose of this article is to report complications from a coronary drug-eluting stent lost in the peripheral circulation. We report the case of successful retrieval of a sirolimus coronary stent from a pedal artery in a young patient who underwent coronary angiography for previous anterior myocardial infarction. Recognition of stent embolization requires adequate removal of the device to avoid unwelcome clinical sequelae.
[Cannabis and acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation].
Ghannem, M; Belhadj, I; Tritar, A; Moukala, T; Amri, N; Noury, A; Zaghdoudi, M
Cannabis is the most common substance of drug abuse in the world and has euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Its cardiovascular effects are well-known. However, there is limited information concerning cannabis-induced acute coronary syndrome and the exact contribution of cannabis smoking to coronary artery disease. We report and discuss a case of ST-Elevation acute coronary syndrome occurring in a young patient aged 24 years, who was a heavy cannabis smoker. PMID:24182845
[Cannabis and acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation].
Ghannem, M; Belhadj, I; Tritar, A; Moukala, T; Amri, N; Noury, A; Zaghdoudi, M
Cannabis is the most common substance of drug abuse in the world and has euphoric and hallucinogenic effects. Its cardiovascular effects are well-known. However, there is limited information concerning cannabis-induced acute coronary syndrome and the exact contribution of cannabis smoking to coronary artery disease. We report and discuss a case of ST-Elevation acute coronary syndrome occurring in a young patient aged 24 years, who was a heavy cannabis smoker.
Cystatin C in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Parida, Ashok; Sanyal, Joy; Ganguly, Arunangshu
Cystatin C has been regarded as a novel sensitive marker for the assessment of renal function, and the role of cystatin C as a predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with impaired renal function has been confirmed in clinical studies. In this study we assessed the association between cystatin C and Coronary artery disease [CAD] in a consecutive series of patients with normal kidney function in order to avoid the well-known effect of overt renal insufficiency on coronary atherosclerosis, and evaluate whether cystatin C has an ability to identify individuals at a higher risk for CAD among patients belonging to a low-risk category according to estimated glomerular filtration rate .The current study and review of literature demonstrated that serum levels of cystatin C, were independently associated with the development of CAD.
Surgical treatment of congenital coronary artery fistula.
John, S; Perianayagam, W J; Muralidharan, S; Nandakumar, V; Mansfield, R; Krishnaswamy, S; Sukumar, I P; Cherian, G
Six patients with congenital coronary artery fistula underwent successful corrective surgery. Precise diagnosis was established either by retrograde aortography or more recently by selective arteriography. The left coronary artery was involved in four and the right in two cases. The fistula communicated with the right ventricle in three and the right atrium in three subjects. The operative approach is dictated by the site of entry of the vessel into the cardiac chamber. The use of cardiopulmonary bypass for intracardiac repair allows accurate closure of the fistula thereby reducing the chances of recurrence. A follow-up of one to seven years showed that all patients are asymptomatic and leading normal lives. Images PMID:7314003
Coronary Heart Disease and Emotional Intelligence
Vlachaki, Chrisanthy P.; Maridaki-Kassotaki, Katerina
Background: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is associated with emotions, especially negative ones, namely anxiety and depression. Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a psychological model that consists of a variety of emotional skills. Aims: The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between different dimensions of Emotional Intelligence and coronary heart disease. Methods: A total of 300 participants were studied during a 3-year period in an attempt to partially replicate and further expand a previous study conducted in Greece among CHD patients, which indicated a strong association between certain dimensions of Emotional Intelligence and the incidence of CHD. All participants completed a self-report questionnaire, assessing several aspects of Emotional Intelligence. Findings: The results showed that there is a link between the regulation of emotions and the occurrence of CHD. Conclusions: The evidence reported in the present study makes stronger the claim that EI plays a significant role in the occurrence of CHD. PMID:24171883
Prognostic utility of coronary computed tomographic angiography
Otaki, Yuka; Berman, Daniel S.; Min, James K.
Coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) employing CT scanners of 64-detector rows or greater represents a noninvasive method that enables accurate detection and exclusion of anatomically obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), providing excellent diagnostic information when compared to invasive angiography. There are numerous potential advantages of CCTA beyond simply luminal stenosis assessment including quantification of atherosclerotic plaque volume as well as assessment of plaque composition, extent, location and distribution. In recent years, an array of studies has evaluated the prognostic utility of CCTA findings of CAD for the prediction of major adverse cardiac events, all-cause death and plaque instability. This prognostic information enhances risk stratification and, if properly acted upon, may improve medical therapy and/or behavioral changes that may enhance event-free survival. The goal of the present article is to summarize the current status of the prognostic utility of CCTA findings of CAD. PMID:23809386
Acute Coronary Syndrome: Focus on Antiplatelet Therapy.
Bobadilla, Rodel V
The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology in 2014 published a focused update of the 2007 and 2012 guidelines for non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). The management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is described in a separate guideline published in 2013. The focused updates to the guidelines contain updated recommendations for dual antiplatelet therapy, including use of the P2Y12 inhibitor ticagrelor, which was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Nurses caring for patients with acute coronary syndrome must have a good understanding of the current treatment guidelines for such patients, to help ensure delivery of evidence-based care. This review article uses a case study-based approach to describe how the new guidelines affect clinical decision making when choosing appropriate antiplatelet therapy for patients with NSTE-ACS or STEMI, depending on the patient's clinical history and presenting characteristics. PMID:26830177
Coronary tree extraction using motion layer separation.
Zhang, Wei; Ling, Haibin; Prummer, Simone; Zhou, Kevin Shaohua; Ostermeier, Martin; Comaniciu, Dorin
Fluoroscopic images contain useful information that is difficult to comprehend due to the collapse of the 3D information into 2D space. Extracting the informative layers and analyzing them separately could significantly improve the task of understanding the image content. Traditional Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is not applicable for coronary angiography because of heart beat and breathing motion. In this work, we propose a layer extraction method for separating transparent motion layers in fluoroscopic image sequences, so that coronary tree can be better visualized.. The method is based on the fact that different anatomical structures possess different motion patterns, e.g., heart is beating fast, while lung is breathing slower. A multiscale implementation is used to further improve the efficiency and accuracy. The proposed approach helps to enhance the visibility of the vessel tree, both visually and quantitatively.
Imaging of coronary arteries using synchrotron radiation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Thompson, A. C.; Zeman, H.; Thomlinson, W.; Rubenstein, E.; Kernoff, R. S.; Hofstadter, R.; Giacomini, J. C.; Gordon, H. J.; Brown, G. S.
Currently the imaging of coronary arteries is dangerous since it requires that a catheter be inserted into a peripheral artery and threaded up to the heart so that contrast agent can be injected directly into the artery being imaged. Using synchrotron radiation it may be possible to use a much safer venous injection of a contrast agent and still have sufficient image contrast to visualize the coronary arteries. A pair of monochromatized X-ray beams are used which have energies that bracket the iodine K absorption edge where the iodine absorption cross section jumps by a factor of six. Therefore, the logarithmic difference image has excellent sensitivity to contrast agent and minimal sensitivity to tissue and bone. Images have been taken of both dogs and humans. Improvements are being made to the imaging system which will substantially improve the image quality.
Motexafin lutetium in graft coronary artery disease
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Woodburn, Kathryn W.; Rodriquez, Shari L.; Yamaguchi, Atsushi; Hayase, Motoya; Robbins, Robert C.; Kessel, David
Graft coronary artery disease (GCAD) is the chief complication following cardiac transplantation. Presently, there are limited treatment options. Insights into more expedient diagnosis and amelioration, if only partially, of GCAD are fervently sought. The selectivity of Antrin Injection (Lu-Tex) with subsequent photoactivation has been evaluated in several preclinical atherosclerosis models. The inhibitory effect of Lu-Tex induced photosensitization was demonstrated with human bypass coronary smooth muscle cells. The biodistribution of Lu-Tex was evaluated in a rat model of heterotopic cardiac allografts 60 days following transplantation. Lu-Tex was retained in the cardiac allograft, exhibiting a five-fold increase in retention between the allograft and native heart. These findings lead us to suggest that further studies are warranted to ascertain the merits of Lu-Tex for the diagnosis and possible attenuation of chronic graft vascular disease.
[Cardiac rehabilitation after coronary artery bypass surgery].
Dayan, Victor; Ricca, Roberto
Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide with an increase in the incidence in younger populations. Today revascularization strategies are capable of alleviating acute ischemia and/or chronic ischemia. These can be performed percutaneously or through surgery. Even if we improve myocardial perfusion by these methods, the main determinant in maintaining patency of coronary arteries and bypass is a correctly instituted secondary prevention. This is the main focus of cardiac rehabilitation proposals. Although much has been published about the role of cardiac rehabilitation after percutaneous revascularization, there is little work able to synthesize the current state of cardiac rehabilitation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The aim of this paper is to review the effect of rehabilitation in the return to work, survival, functional capacity, depression and anxiety, as well as compare centralized vs. home rehabilitation in this patient population.
Comprehensive assessment of coronary fractional flow reserve
Qi, Xiaolong; Fan, Guoxin; Zhu, Deqiu; Ma, Wanrong
Fractional flow reserve (FFR) is considered nowadays as the gold standard for invasive assessment of physiologic stenosis significance and an indispensable tool for decision-making in coronary revascularization. Robust studies have shown that FFR is more effective in accurately identifying which lesions should be stented, and revascularization guided by FFR improves the outcome of coronary artery disease in patients. Therefore, FFR has been upgraded to a class A recommendation in current guidelines when the ischemic potential for specific target lesions is controversial. This article reviews the laboratory practice, functional evaluation of FFR as a gold standard and its emerging clinical application. In addition, novel noninvasive technologies of FFR measurement are discussed in depth. PMID:26170840
[Nutritional counseling for coronary and hypertensive patients].
Paillard, F
Nutritional recommendations constitute a major aspect of the long term management of coronary and hypertensive patients, for which the established evidence is more and more solid. The benefits are not limited solely to the impact on weight and lipid parameters. In coronary patients, besides the reduction in saturated fatty acids, which is always indicated, an increase in the intake of omega-3 fatty acids is associated with a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality, notably with sudden death. Intake of folates is also beneficial, as well as fruit and vegetable consumption. These elements are constituents of alimentary models such as the mediterranean diet. In hypertensives, weight reduction, limitation of alcohol and sodium intake, and increasing potassium and magnesium intakes have a demonstrable effect. Evaluation of patient compliance to nutritional recommendations is just as important as that of compliance to treatments and control of classic risk factors.
Spontaneous Dissection of Right Coronary Artery Manifested with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Paraskevaidis, Stelios; Theofilogiannakos, Efstratios K; Chatzizisis, Yiannis S; Mantziari, Lilian; Economou, Fotis; Ziakas, Antonios; Hadjimiltiades, Stavros; Styliadis, Ioannis H
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute ischemic coronary events and sudden cardiac death. It usually occurs in young women without traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease during pregnancy or postpartum period. However, it has also been reported in patients with atherosclerotic coronary disease. We present a case of spontaneous right coronary artery dissection in a 48-year male with recent myocardial infarction and previous percutaneous coronary intervention. PMID:21127744
Significance of noncalcified coronary plaque in asymptomatic subjects with low coronary artery calcium score: assessment with coronary computed tomography angiography.
Yoo, Dong Hyun; Chun, Eun Ju; Choi, Sang Il; Kim, Jeong A; Jin, Kwang Nam; Yeon, Tae-Jin; Choi, Dong-Ju
We aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of noncalcified coronary plaques (NCP) using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and analyze predictors of significant coronary stenosis by NCP in asymptomatic subjects with low coronary artery calcium score (CACS). The institutional review board approved this retrospective study and all patients gave written, informed consent. The presence of plaque, severity of stenosis, plaque characteristics, and CACS were assessed in 7,515 asymptomatic subjects. We evaluated the prevalence and severity of NCP in subjects having low CACS (707 subjects; men with CACS from 1 to 50 and women from 1 to 10) in comparison to those having 0 CACS (6,040 subjects) as the reference standard. Conventional risk factors were assessed for predictors of NCP and significant stenosis by NCP. We also investigated the cardiac events of the patients through medical records. Compared to subjects with 0 CACS, those with low CACS showed higher prevalence of NCP (6.9% vs. 31.5%, P < 0.001) and significant stenosis caused by NCP (0.8% vs. 7.5%, P < 0.001). In the low CACS group, independent predictors for significant NCP included diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (all P < 0.05). However, 47.2% of subjects with significant NCP were classified into the low to intermediate risk according to Framingham Risk Score. At the median follow up of 42 months (range: 3-60 months), cardiac events were significantly higher in the low CACS group compared to the 0 CACS group (2.6% vs. 0.27%, P < 0.001). In asymptomatic subjects having low CACS, the prevalence and severity of NCP were higher as compared to subjects having zero CACS and predictors of significant stenosis by NCP were DM, hypertension and LDL-Cholesterol. Therefore, CCTA may be useful for risk stratification of coronary artery disease as added value over CACS in selected populations with low CACS who have predictors of significant NCP.
Modern risk stratification in coronary heart disease.
Ginghina, C; Bejan, I; Ceck, C D
The prevalence and impact of cardiovascular diseases in the world are growing. There are 2 million deaths due to cardiovascular disease each year in the European Union; the main cause of death being the coronary heart disease responsible for 16% of deaths in men and 15% in women. Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in Romania is estimated at 7 million people, of which 2.8 million have ischemic heart disease. In this epidemiological context, risk stratification is required for individualization of therapeutic strategies for each patient. The continuing evolution of the diagnosis and treatment techniques combines personalized medicine with the trend of therapeutic management leveling, based on guidelines and consensus, which are in constant update. The guidelines used in clinical practice have involved risk stratification and identification of patient groups in whom the risk-benefit ratio of using new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques has a positive value. Presence of several risk factors may indicate a more important total risk than the presence / significant increase from normal values of a single risk factor. Modern trends in risk stratification of patients with coronary heart disease are polarized between the use of simple data versus complex scores, traditional data versus new risk factors, generally valid scores versus personalized scores, depending on patient characteristics, type of coronary artery disease, with impact on the suggested therapy. All known information and techniques can be integrated in a complex system of risk assessment. The current trend in risk assessment is to identify coronary artery disease in early forms, before clinical manifestation, and to guide therapy, particularly in patients with intermediate risk, which can be classified in another class of risk based on new obtained information.
[New antiplatelet drugs in coronary artery disease].
Tello-Montoliu, Antonio; Jover, Eva; Valdés, Mariano
The dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel has been the mainstay of both acute and chronic phase coronary artery disease, reducing importantly the risk of adverse events. Despite a correct compliance, a non-negligible rate of adverse events still happens. New compounds, with improved properties, are now clinically available (such as prasugrel or ticagrelor) or under advanced development. The aim of the present review is the description of these new compounds, particularly prasugrel and ticagrelor. PMID:24480290
A Computed Tomography Based Coronary Lesion Score to Predict Acute Coronary Syndrome Among Patients With Acute Chest Pain and a Significant Coronary Stenosis on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography
Ferencik, Maros; Schlett, Christopher L.; Ghoshhajra, Brian B.; Kriegel, Mathias F.; Joshi, Subodh B.; Maurovich-Horvat, Pal; Rogers, Ian S.; Banerji, Dahlia; Bamberg, Fabian; Truong, Quynh A.; Brady, Thomas J.; Nagurney, John T.; Hoffmann, Udo
We tested the hypothesis that the assessment of lesion morphology helped to detect acute coronary syndrome (ACS) during index hospitalization among patients with acute chest pain who had a significant stenosis on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). Patients who presented to the emergency department with chest pain but no objective signs of myocardial ischemia (non-diagnostic ECG and negative initial biomarkers) underwent CTA. CTA was analyzed for the degree and length of stenosis, plaque area and volume, remodeling index, CT attenuation of plaque, and spotty calcium in all patients with a significant stenosis (>50% in diameter) in CTA. ACS during the index hospitalization was determined by the panel of 2 physicians blinded to results of CTA. For lesion characteristics associated with ACS, we determined cutpoints optimized for diagnostic accuracy and created lesion scores. For each score, we determined odds ratio and discriminatory capacity for the prediction of ACS. Of the overall population of 368 patients, 34 had significant stenosis and among those 21 had ACS. Score A (remodeling index+spotty calcium: OR 3.5, 95%CI 1.2–10.1, AUC 0.734), B (remodeling index+spotty calcium+stenosis length: OR 4.6, 95%CI 1.6–13.7, AUC 0.824) and C (remodeling index+spotty calcium+stenosis length+volume of <90HU plaque: OR 3.4, 95%CI 1.5–7.9, AUC 0.833) were significantly associated with ACS. In conclusion, among patients presenting with acute chest pain and with a stenosis on coronary CTA, a CT-based score incorporating morphologic characteristics of coronary lesions had a good discriminatory value for the detection ACS during index hospitalization. PMID:22481015
[New antiplatelet drugs in coronary artery disease].
Tello-Montoliu, Antonio; Jover, Eva; Valdés, Mariano
The dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid and clopidogrel has been the mainstay of both acute and chronic phase coronary artery disease, reducing importantly the risk of adverse events. Despite a correct compliance, a non-negligible rate of adverse events still happens. New compounds, with improved properties, are now clinically available (such as prasugrel or ticagrelor) or under advanced development. The aim of the present review is the description of these new compounds, particularly prasugrel and ticagrelor.
ST Segment Elevation with Normal Coronaries
Sethi, Pooja; Sharma, Ashwini; Paul, Timir
Noncardiac causes should be kept in the differential while evaluating ST elevation on EKG. Rarely abdominal pathologies like acute pancreatitis can present with ST elevation in the inferior leads. Once acute coronary syndrome is ruled out by emergent cardiac catheterization alternative diagnosis should be sorted. Abdominal pathologies, like acute pancreatitis and acute cholecystitis, can present with ST elevation in the inferior leads. Treating the underlying condition would result in resolution of these EKG changes. PMID:27403165
Dextrocardia with situs inversus totalis: coronary artery bypass grafting.
Hashmi, Salila; Anis, Mariam; Darr, Umer
Dextrocardia with situs inversus is a rare congenital abnormality involving a left-handed mal rotation of the visceral organs. The incidence of coronary artery disease is the same as that in the general population. Performing coronary artery bypass surgery on patients with dextrocardia poses a more challenging task. It is recommended that the right internal mammary artery be the first choice of graft for the anterior descending artery for a "situs inversus" situation. We report 2 cases of patients with Dextrocardia who developed coronary artery disease and underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Also mentioned is the slight difference in our technique.
Giant right coronary artery aneurysms presenting as a cardiac mass
Wang, Huanhuan; Zhang, Yin; Xie, Yanbo; Wang, Hongyue; Yuan, Jinqing
Abstract Introduction: Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is defined as coronary dilatation which exceeds the diameter of the normal adjacent artery segments or the diameter of the patient's largest coronary artery by 1.5 times. The incidence of giant CAA is difficult to be determined, since only few reports have been described in the literature. Methods and Results: A 65-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of a "mass" in the right heart detected on echocardiography at a regular medical health examination, while he experienced no any symptoms. Coronary angiography showed the severe stenosis of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and the left circumflex artery (LCX) and the diffusely ectatic change of the right coronary artery (RCA), but no mass was found in any of these arteries. Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) confirmed that the "mass" was the giant aneurysms of RCA with thrombus. He received coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with thrombectomy. The histopathology showed the deposits of lipid and hyalin in the tunica intima, the focal calcifications, the very thin tunica media, and the disappearance of the part of the tunica media in the RCA. Conclusions: Coronary artery aneurysm which may contain thrombus can complicate a diagnostic coronary angiography due to the risk of distal embolization and may lead to myocardial infarction. This case report demonstrates 2 RCA aneurysms with a thrombus presenting as a giant "mass" which was successfully treated by CABG with thrombectomy. PMID:27661045
Coronary flow and left ventricular function during environmental stress.
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Erickson, H. H.; Adams, J. D.; Stone, H. L.; Sandler, H.
A canine model was used to study the effects of different environmental stresses on the heart and coronary circulation. The heart was surgically instrumented to measure coronary blood flow, left ventricular pressure, and other cardiovascular variables. Coronary flow was recorded by telemetry. Physiologic data were processed and analyzed by analog and digital computers. By these methods the physiologic response to altitude hypoxia, carbon monoxide, hypercapnia, acceleration, exercise, and the interaction of altitude hypoxia and carbon monoxide were described. The effects of some of these stresses on the heart and coronary circulation are discussed.
[Magnetic resonance compatibility research for coronary mental stents].
Wang, Ying; Liu, Li; Wang, Shuo; Shang, Ruyao; Wang, Chunren
The objective of this article is to research magnetic resonance compatibility for coronary mental stents, and to evaluate the magnetic resonance compatibility based on laboratory testing results. Coronary stents magnetic resonance compatibility test includes magnetically induced displacement force test, magnetically induced torque test, radio frequency induced heating and evaluation of MR image. By magnetic displacement force and torque values, temperature, and image distortion values to determine metal coronary stent demagnetization effect. The methods can be applied to test magnetic resonance compatibility for coronary mental stents and evaluate its demagnetization effect. PMID:26027299
Transvenous Coronary Angiography in Humans Using Synchrotron Radiation
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Rubenstein, Edward; Hofstadter, Robert; Zeman, Herbert D.; Thompson, Albert C.; Otis, John N.; Brown, George S.; Giacomini, John C.; Gordon, Helen J.; Kernoff, Robert S.; Harrison, Donald C.; Thomlinson, William
The risks and costs of the present method of visualizing the coronary arteries have limited the use of coronary angiography in long-term serial studies needed to establish the natural history of coronary atherosclerosis and its response to interventions. A less invasive method, in which the contrast agent is administered intravenously, has been developed using synchrotron radiation as the illuminating source. The present report describes the initial results in human subjects. The findings indicate that transvenous coronary angiograms can be acquired in this manner. Further refinements in the x-ray imaging system are expected to result in increased x-ray fluence and improved image quality.
[Magnetic resonance compatibility research for coronary mental stents].
Wang, Ying; Liu, Li; Wang, Shuo; Shang, Ruyao; Wang, Chunren
The objective of this article is to research magnetic resonance compatibility for coronary mental stents, and to evaluate the magnetic resonance compatibility based on laboratory testing results. Coronary stents magnetic resonance compatibility test includes magnetically induced displacement force test, magnetically induced torque test, radio frequency induced heating and evaluation of MR image. By magnetic displacement force and torque values, temperature, and image distortion values to determine metal coronary stent demagnetization effect. The methods can be applied to test magnetic resonance compatibility for coronary mental stents and evaluate its demagnetization effect.
Double Guide Catheter Technique for Sealing an Iatrogenic Coronary Perforation
Rodriguez-Santamarta, Miguel; Estevez-Loureiro, Rodrigo; Cuellas, Carlos; Benito-Gonzalez, Tomas; Perez de Prado, Armando; Lopez-Benito, Maria; Fernandez-Vazquez, Felipe
Introduction: Coronary vessel perforation is one of the most feared complications of coronary angioplasty. The treatment of this complication relies mostly on the implantation of covered stents. However, due to their design, covered stents are difficult to advance in a tortuous or calcified vessel. Case Presentation: We present a case of a grade III coronary perforation in which the double guiding catheter technique helped us to deliver the graft stent. Conclusions: The double-guiding technique is useful in emergency situations to increase the safety and efficacy of sealing a coronary perforation. PMID:26949692
Correlation of angiographic and surgical findings in distal coronary branches.
Pidgeon, J; Treasure, T; Brooks, N; Cattell, M; Balcon, R
In 60 consecutive patients undergoing vein graft surgery the angiographic appearances of the coronary vessels were compared with those of the vessels at operation. On the basis of lumen diameter at the potential sites for grafting it was possible to predict with reasonable accuracy from examination of the angiogram which vessels were large enough to be grafted. Angiographic predictive accuracy was 82% and was similar both for vessels which filled normally and for those which filled by collaterals. The predictive value of the angiographic assessment was similar for branches thought to be too small (predictive value 74%) and for those considered sufficiently large (predictive value 85%) to receive a vein graft. Disease of the vessel walls was found at surgery (66% of coronary branches examined) more frequently than was predicted from the angiographic appearances (33%). Previous necropsy studies have found a high prevalence of coronary atheroma in the population, yet normal angiographic appearances in the coronary arteries are not uncommon in patients undergoing investigation for suspected coronary disease. The present study showed that atheroma may be present in coronary vessels without encroaching into the vessel lumen, so that it is not evident on the angiogram. Coronary atheroma is thus present more often and is more widely distributed in the coronary tree than is indicated by coronary angiography. PMID:6607059
Paradoxical coronary artery embolism - a rare cause of myocardial infarction.
Hakim, Fayaz A; Kransdorf, Evan P; Abudiab, Muaz M; Sweeney, John P
Paradoxical coronary artery embolism is a rare, but often an underdiagnosed cause of acute myocardial infarction. It should be considered in patient who presents with chest pain and otherwise having a low risk profile for atherosclerosis coronary artery disease. We describe a case of paradoxical coronary artery embolism causing ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in a patient with upper extremity venous thrombosis. Echocardiography demonstrated a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with bidirectional shunt. In addition to treatment of acute coronary event closure of the PFO should be considered to prevent a recurrence. PMID:25774255
Paradoxical Coronary Artery Embolism - A Rare Cause of Myocardial Infarction
Hakim, Fayaz A.; Kransdorf, Evan P.; Abudiab, Muaz M.; Sweeney, John P.
Paradoxical coronary artery embolism is a rare, but often an underdiagnosed cause of acute myocardial infarction. It should be considered in patient who presents with chest pain and otherwise having a low risk profile for atherosclerosis coronary artery disease. We describe a case of paradoxical coronary artery embolism causing ST segment elevation myocardial infarction in a patient with upper extremity venous thrombosis. Echocardiography demonstrated a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with bidirectional shunt. In addition to treatment of acute coronary event closure of the PFO should be considered to prevent a recurrence. PMID:25774255
Distal coronary perforation in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft surgery: The importance of early treatment.
Karatasakis, Aris; Akhtar, Yasir N; Brilakis, Emmanouil S
In patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, distal coronary perforations are commonly considered to be at low risk for causing cardiac tamponade due to a potential protective role of pericardial adhesions, which obliterate the pericardial space. Loculated effusions can however form in such patients, compressing various cardiac structures and causing hemodynamic compromise. We present two cases of distal coronary perforation in prior CABG patients undergoing chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention. In the first case a distal coronary perforation was initially observed, resulting in a loculated pericardial effusion that caused ST-segment elevation and death, despite successful sealing of the perforation. In the second case a similar perforation was immediately sealed with a covered stent, followed by uneventful patient recovery. A literature review of coronary perforation leading to hemodynamic compromise in patients with prior CABG surgery revealed high mortality (22%), suggesting that prompt sealing of the perforation is critical in these patients. PMID:27465517
Contrast agent choice for intravenous coronary angiography
Zeman, H.D.; Siddons, D.P.
The screening of the general population for coronary artery disease would be practical if a method existed for visualizing the extent of occlusion after an intravenous injection of contrast agent. Measurements performed with monochromatic synchrotron radiation x-rays and an iodine containing contrast agent at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory have shown that such an intravenous angiography procedure would be possible with an adequately intense monochromatic x-ray source. Because of the size and cost of synchrotron radiation facilities it would be desirable to make the most efficient use of the intensity available, while reducing as much as possible the radiation dose experienced by the patient. By choosing contrast agents containing elements with a higher atomic number than iodine, it is possible to both improve the image quality and reduce the patient radiation dose, while using the same synchrotron source. By using Si monochromator crystals with a small mosaic spread, it is possible to increase the x-ray flux available for imaging by over an order of magnitude, without any changes in the storage ring or wiggler magnet. The most critical imaging task for intravenous coronary angiography utilizing synchrotron radiation x-rays is visualizing a coronary artery through the left ventricle or aorta which also contains a contrast agent. Calculations have been made of the signal to noise ratio expected for this imaging task for various contrast agents with atomic numbers between that of iodine and bismuth.
TBS Predict Coronary Artery Calcification in Adults
Chuang, Tzyy-Ling; Hsiao, Fu-Tsung; Li, Yi-Da
Purpose. This study analyzes the association between the bony microarchitecture score (trabecular bone score, TBS) and coronary artery calcification (CAC) in adults undergoing health exams. Materials and Methods. We retrospectively collected subjects (N = 81) who underwent coronary computed tomography and bone mineral density studies simultaneously. CAC was categorized to three levels (Group 0, G0, no CAC, score = 0, N = 45; Group 1, G1, moderate CAC, score = 1–100, N = 17; Group 2, G2, high CAC, score ≧ 101, N = 19). Multinomial logistic regression was used to study the association between TBS and CAC levels. Results. CAC is present in 44.4% of the population. Mean TBS ± SD was 1.399 ± 0.090. Per 1 SD increase in TBS, the unadjusted odds ratio (2.393) of moderate CAC compared with no CAC was significantly increased (95% CI, 1.219–4.696, p = 0.011). However, there has been no association of TBS with high CAC (OR: 1.026, 95% CI: 0.586–1.797, p = 0.928). These relationships also existed when individually adjusted for age, sex, and multiple other covariates. Conclusions. Higher TBS was related to moderate CAC, but not high CAC; a possible explanation may be that bone microarchitecture remodeling becomes more active when early coronary artery calcification occurs. However, further researches are needed to clarify this pathophysiology. PMID:27042671
[Key laboratory diagnostic biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis].
Ragino, Iu I; Cherniavskiĭ, A M; Eremenko, N V; Shakhtshneĭder, E V; Polonskaia, Ia V; Tsymbal, S Iu; Ivanova, M V; Voevoda, M I
Laboratory lipid and lipoprotein biomarkers (total cholesterol - CH, triglycerides - TG, low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol- LDL-CH, HDL-CH, apolipoproteins B and A1 - apoB, apoA1), carbohydrate biomarkers (plasma glucose, basal insulin), high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and oxidative biomarkers (basal level of lipid peroxidation [LPO] products in LDL, LDL resistance to oxidation in vitro, oxidative modification of apoLDL and level of LDL lipophilic antioxidants) were studied in 388 men aged 42-70 years: 96 citizens of Western Siberia with angiographically documented coronary atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD); 292 men of population sample of citizens of Novosibirsk, including 44 men with CHD confirmed by standardized criteria and methods. Significant associations were found of coronary atherosclerosis and CHD with laboratory diagnostic biomarkers like blood levels of HDL-CH, TG, apoB, apoA1, basal insulin, hsCRP and basal level of LPO products in LDL and LDL resistance to oxidation. PMID:21627612
Genetics and Genomics of Coronary Artery Disease.
Pjanic, Milos; Miller, Clint L; Wirka, Robert; Kim, Juyong B; DiRenzo, Daniel M; Quertermous, Thomas
Coronary artery disease (or coronary heart disease), is the leading cause of mortality in many of the developing as well as the developed countries of the world. Cholesterol-enriched plaques in the heart's blood vessels combined with inflammation lead to the lesion expansion, narrowing of blood vessels, reduced blood flow, and may subsequently cause lesion rupture and a heart attack. Even though several environmental risk factors have been established, such as high LDL-cholesterol, diabetes, and high blood pressure, the underlying genetic composition may substantially modify the disease risk; hence, genome composition and gene-environment interactions may be critical for disease progression. Ongoing scientific efforts have seen substantial advancements related to the fields of genetics and genomics, with the major breakthroughs yet to come. As genomics is the most rapidly advancing field in the life sciences, it is important to present a comprehensive overview of current efforts. Here, we present a summary of various genetic and genomics assays and approaches applied to coronary artery disease research. PMID:27586139
Cardiogenic shock in acute coronary syndrome.
Ruiz-Bailén, Manuel; Rucabado-Aguilar, Luis; Expósito-Ruiz, Manuela; Morante-Valle, Antonia; Castillo-Rivera, Ana; Pintor-Mármol, Antonio; Rosell-Ortiz, Fernando; Mellado-Vergel, Francisco José; Machado-Casas, Juan; Tejero-Pedregosa, Armando; Lara-Torrano, Juan
This is a review of current knowledge on cardiogenic shock (CS), with particular attention to recommended management. The bibliography for the study was compiled through a search of different databases between 1966-2008. The references cited in the selected articles were also reviewed. The selection criteria included all reports published on CS, from case reports and case series to controlled studies. Languages used were Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, and English. Cardiogenic shock is the most frequent cause of in-hospital death as a complication of acute coronary syndrome. The incidence is about 7% and, despite therapeutic advances, it continues to have an ominous prognosis, with mortality rates of over 50%. Coronary reperfusion is fundamental in the management of cardiogenic shock, particularly with the use of percutaneous coronary intervention. However, if this is not available, systemic thrombolysis may be performed together with balloon counterpulsation or the use of pressor drugs. Despite the historical importance of the Swan-Ganz catheter, this would appear to have limited use, with echocardiography nonetheless having a fundamental role in the management of CS. Although patients with cardiogenic shock often present a left ventricular ejection fraction of around 30%, survivors often have a good functional classification one year after the event. Neurohormonal and inflammatory mechanisms play a fundamental role in the pathophysiology of CS. These mechanisms are currently the target of studies looking into developing new therapeutic strategies. PMID:19247258
Rapid Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis: A Review
Shah, Priyank; Bajaj, Sharad; Virk, Hartaj; Bikkina, Mahesh; Shamoon, Fayez
Atherosclerosis is chronic disease, the prevalence of which has increased steadily as the population ages. Vascular injury is believed to be critical initiating event in pathogenesis of spontaneous atherosclerosis. Syndrome of accelerated atherosclerosis has been classically described in patients undergoing heart transplantation, coronary artery bypass graft, and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. In contrast to spontaneous atherosclerosis, denuding endothelial injury followed by thrombus formation and initial predominant smooth muscle cell proliferation is believed to be playing a significant role in accelerated atherosclerosis. There is no universal definition of rapid progression of atherosclerosis. However most studies describing the phenomenon have used the following definition: (i) > or = 10% diameter reduction of at least one preexisting stenosis > or = 50%, (ii) > or = 30% diameter reduction of a preexisting stenosis <50%, and (iii) progression of a lesion to total occlusion within few months. Recent studies have described the role of coronary vasospasm, human immunodeficiency virus, various inflammatory markers, and some genetic mutations as predictors of rapid progression of atherosclerosis. As research in the field of vascular biology continues, more factors are likely to be implicated in the pathogenesis of rapid progression of atherosclerosis. PMID:26823982
Percutaneous coronary intervention in the elderly.
Sandhu, Kully; Nadar, Sunil K
Our population dynamics are changing. The number of octogenarians and older people in the general population is increasing and therefore the number of older patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome or stable angina is increasing. This group has a larger burden of coronary disease and also a greater number of concomitant comorbidities when compared to younger patients. Many of the studies assessing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to date have actively excluded octogenarians. However, a number of studies, both retrospective and prospective, are now being undertaken to reflect the, "real" population. Despite being a higher risk group for both elective and emergency PCIs, octogenarians have the greatest to gain in terms of prognosis, symptomatic relief, and arguably more importantly, quality of life. Important future development will include assessment of patient frailty, encouraging early presentation, addressing gender differences on treatment strategies, identification of culprit lesion(s) and vascular access to minimise vascular complications. We are now appreciating that the new frontier is perhaps recognising and risk stratifying those elderly patients who have the most to gain from PCI. This review article summarises the most relevant trials and studies. PMID:26241641
Assessment of coronary vasomotion by intracoronary ultrasound
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Dupouy, Patrick J.; Dubois-Rande, Jean Luc; Pelle, Gabriel; Gallot, Dominique; Geschwind, Herbert J.
Recently, new intravascular ultrasound devices for intracoronary use became available. The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of intravascular ultrasound for the assessment of coronary artery vasomotion and endothelial function in patients with atherosclerosis. Twenty patients with luminal irregularities on coronary angiogram and a high cholesterol level (287 +/- 19 mg/dl) (group 1) and 6 patients with angiographically smooth arteries and a minimally elevated cholesterol level (197 +/- 12 mg/dl) (group 2) were studied. A mechanical intravascular ultrasound probe (4.3 French, 30 MHz, Cardiovascular Imaging Systems) was placed into the proximal segment of the coronary artery. Off-line measurements of the lumen area and calculation of mean intimal thickness indice was performed using digitized ultrasound images. Endothelial function was studied during a sympathetic stimulation by a cold pressor test and after intracoronary administration of papaverine and linsidomine. Mean intimal thickness was higher in group 1 than in group 2 (1.52 +/- 0.64 mm vs. 0.18 +/- 0.08 mm, p < 0.001). Linsidomine infusion induced a significant vasodilating effect in both groups (p < 0.001).
Detection of coronary calcifications from computed tomography scans for automated risk assessment of coronary artery disease
Isgum, Ivana; Rutten, Annemarieke; Prokop, Mathias; Ginneken, Bram van
A fully automated method for coronary calcification detection from non-contrast-enhanced, ECG-gated multi-slice computed tomography (CT) data is presented. Candidates for coronary calcifications are extracted by thresholding and component labeling. These candidates include coronary calcifications, calcifications in the aorta and in the heart, and other high-density structures such as noise and bone. A dedicated set of 64 features is calculated for each candidate object. They characterize the object's spatial position relative to the heart and the aorta, for which an automatic segmentation scheme was developed, its size and shape, and its appearance, which is described by a set of approximated Gaussian derivatives for which an efficient computational scheme is presented. Three classification strategies were designed. The first one tested direct classification without feature selection. The second approach also utilized direct classification, but with feature selection. Finally, the third scheme employed two-stage classification. In a computationally inexpensive first stage, the most easily recognizable false positives were discarded. The second stage discriminated between more difficult to separate coronary calcium and other candidates. Performance of linear, quadratic, nearest neighbor, and support vector machine classifiers was compared. The method was tested on 76 scans containing 275 calcifications in the coronary arteries and 335 calcifications in the heart and aorta. The best performance was obtained employing a two-stage classification system with a k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classifier and a feature selection scheme. The method detected 73.8% of coronary calcifications at the expense of on average 0.1 false positives per scan. A calcium score was computed for each scan and subjects were assigned one of four risk categories based on this score. The method assigned the correct risk category to 93.4% of all scans.
Coronary CT findings of coronary to bronchial arterial communication in chronic pulmonary disease.
Byun, Sung Su; Park, Jae Hyung; Kim, Jeong Ho; Sung, Yon Mi; Kim, Yoon Kyung; Kim, Eun Young; Park, Eun Ah
To describe the coronary CT findings of coronary-to-bronchial artery communication (CBAC) in chronic pulmonary disease. Coronary CT was performed in 15 patients with chronic pulmonary disease using 64-channel or greater multidetector CT. Among those patients, one or two CBACs were identified. A retrospective analysis of the CT findings was done to determine the originating artery, arterial course of the communications and other associated results. The main underlying pulmonary disease was bronchiectasis (n = 12). The origin of the CBAC was from the left atrial (n = 7) or sinoatrial (SA) nodal (n = 3) branch of the left circumflex artery in nine patients and the SA nodal branch of the right coronary artery in six patients. The CBAC was connected to the left bronchial artery in 11 patients and the right bronchial artery in five patients. The course of the CBAC passed through the interpulmonary venous bare area between reflections of the serous pericardium of the transverse and oblique sinuses in 13 patients. In three patients, it passed through the perivascular space around the left upper or lower pulmonary vein. In one patient, there were two communications-one through the interpulmonary venous bare area and the other through the perivascular space around the left lower pulmonary vein. There was no significant coronary arterial stenosis except in two patients. Bronchial arterial hypertrophy was found in all 15 patients. Detailed analysis of coronary CT can be a helpful guide for hemodynamic significance and clinical management including embolotherapy for CBAC in patients of chronic pulmonary disease with hemoptysis.
Use of Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography to Guide Management of Patients With Coronary Disease
Williams, Michelle C.; Hunter, Amanda; Shah, Anoop S.V.; Assi, Valentina; Lewis, Stephanie; Smith, Joel; Berry, Colin; Boon, Nicholas A.; Clark, Elizabeth; Flather, Marcus; Forbes, John; McLean, Scott; Roditi, Giles; van Beek, Edwin J.R.; Timmis, Adam D.; Newby, David E.
Background In a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, 4,146 patients were randomized to receive standard care or standard care plus coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Objectives The purpose of this study was to explore the consequences of CCTA-assisted diagnosis on invasive coronary angiography, preventive treatments, and clinical outcomes. Methods In post hoc analyses, we assessed changes in invasive coronary angiography, preventive treatments, and clinical outcomes using national electronic health records. Results Despite similar overall rates (409 vs. 401; p = 0.451), invasive angiography was less likely to demonstrate normal coronary arteries (20 vs. 56; hazard ratios [HRs]: 0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.23 to 0.68]; p < 0.001) but more likely to show obstructive coronary artery disease (283 vs. 230; HR: 1.29 [95% CI: 1.08 to 1.55]; p = 0.005) in those allocated to CCTA. More preventive therapies (283 vs. 74; HR: 4.03 [95% CI: 3.12 to 5.20]; p < 0.001) were initiated after CCTA, with each drug commencing at a median of 48 to 52 days after clinic attendance. From the median time for preventive therapy initiation (50 days), fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction was halved in patients allocated to CCTA compared with those assigned to standard care (17 vs. 34; HR: 0.50 [95% CI: 0.28 to 0.88]; p = 0.020). Cumulative 6-month costs were slightly higher with CCTA: difference $462 (95% CI: $303 to $621). Conclusions In patients with suspected angina due to coronary heart disease, CCTA leads to more appropriate use of invasive angiography and alterations in preventive therapies that were associated with a halving of fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction. (Scottish COmputed Tomography of the HEART Trial [SCOT-HEART]; NCT01149590) PMID:27081014
Coronary Collaterals Predict Improved Survival and Allograft Function in Patients with Coronary Allograft Vasculopathy
Lavine, Kory J.; Sintek, Marc; Novak, Eric; Ewald, Gregory; Geltman, Edward; Joseph, Susan; Pfeifer, John; Mann, Douglas
Background Despite improvements in the care of patients who have received cardiac transplants, coronary allograft vasculopathy (CAV) remains the most prevalent cause of late allograft failure and cardiac mortality. Few proven therapies are available for this important disease. The presence of coronary collaterals imparts a favorable prognosis in patients with native ischemic heart disease; however, the impact of collaterals in CAV is unknown. Methods and results To determine whether the development of coronary collaterals is associated with improved outcomes in patients with CAV, we performed a retrospective analysis of patients followed in the heart transplant program at Barnes Jewish Hospital from 1994–2008. The primary endpoints included all cause mortality and the composite of all cause mortality, retransplantation, and inotrope dependence. We screened 493 patients and identified 59 (12%) subjects with moderate to severe CAV. Angiographically visible coronary collaterals were present in 34 (57%) subjects. Kaplan-Meier and Cox multivariable analyses revealed that patients with collaterals had reduced incidence of all cause mortality HR 0.20, p<0.001 and the composite endpoint HR 0.17, p<0.001. In addition, patients with collaterals had less severe heart failure symptoms as measured by NYHA class. Immunostaining of biopsy specimens revealed that among patients with CAV, the presence of coronary collaterals correlated with increased microvascular density, reduced fibrosis and lower LVEDP. Conclusions Together, these data demonstrate that the presence of coronary collaterals predicts a favorable prognosis in patients with CAV and suggests that interventions aimed at promoting collateral and microvascular growth may serve as effective therapies for this disease. PMID:23709657
Excimer laser debulking for percutaneous coronary intervention in left main coronary artery disease.
Topaz, On; Polkampally, Pritam R; Mohanty, Pramod K; Rizk, Maged; Bangs, Julie; Bernardo, Nelson L
Excimer laser has been successfully applied to complex atherosclerotic plaques in acute coronary syndromes; however, its role in debulking in left main coronary artery disease has not been fully explored. Details of a series of 20 patients who underwent excimer laser revascularization of a spectrum of left main coronary artery lesions are presented. Twenty symptomatic patients who received excimer laser debulking were examined for procedural outcome and follow up results. The left main coronary artery was characterized as protected, semi-protected, poorly protected, or unprotected, depending on the presence or absence of patent bypass grafts to the left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex (CX) arteries. A fully protected left main coronary artery (LMCA) was present in only 20% of the patients. The target lesions included 11(55%) distal LMCA stenoses, six (30%) ostial stenoses, and one (5%) mid-portion lesions. Two (10%) patients had in-stent re-stenosis of the entire length of the LMCA. Small (0.7 mm-1.4 mm) excimer laser catheters were mostly used. A relatively high number of laser energy pulses (1,334 +/- 643) were required to achieve adequate debulking. Successful LMCA intervention was performed in 19 (95%) patients, while in-hospital complications occurred in only one (5%) patient. Subacute/late stent thrombosis developed 3 months after the procedure in one patient, and two patients died from non-cardiac causes during follow-up. Lesions in LMCAs can be revascularized in selected patients by laser debulking and adjunct stenting. Inadequate protection by bypass grafts and decreased left ventricular function do not contradict utilization of excimer laser. Small laser catheters and high energy levels are required during laser debulking of stenoses of left main coronary arteries.
Effect of dexmedetomidine on diseased coronary vessel diameter and myocardial protection in percutaneous coronary interventional patients
Kundra, Tanveer Singh; Nagaraja, P. S; Singh, Naveen G.; Dhananjaya, Manasa; Sathish, N; Manjunatha, N
Introduction: Dexmedetomidine is an alpha-2 agonist used for conscious sedation. It has also been shown to have a myocardial protective effect in off-pump coronary artery bypass patients. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of dexmedetomidine for myocardial protection in percutaneous coronary interventional patients. Methodology: A total of 60 patients (group dexmedetomidine, n = 30 and group normal saline, n = 30) were enrolled in the study. Dexmedetomidine infusion (1 mcg/kg) over 15 min was given as a loading dose after coronary angiography in group dexmedetomidine (D) while normal saline was given in the control group (C) and later maintenance infusion was started at 0.5 mcg/kg/h in both the groups. Coronary vessel diameter was noted before (T0) and after (T1) loading dose of dexmedetomidine/saline in each group. Troponin T (Trop T) values were noted at baseline (T0), 6 h (T2), 12 h (T3) and 24 h (T4) after starting the loading dose. Hemodynamic variables (heart rate [HR] and blood pressure) were monitored at T0, T1, and at regular intervals till 2 h postprocedure. Results: Coronary vessel diameter and HR significantly decreased in group D as compared to control group (P < 0.05) whereas the decrease in Trop T at 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h were not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine decreases the coronary vessel diameter, but maintains the myocardial oxygen demand-supply ratio by decreasing the HR. The decrease in Trop T is statistically insignificant at the doses used. PMID:27397441
Computer-aided CT coronary artery stenosis detection: comparison with human reading and quantitative coronary angiography.
Rief, Matthias; Kranz, Anisha; Hartmann, Lisa; Roehle, Robert; Laule, Michael; Dewey, Marc
To evaluate computer-aided stenosis detection for computed tomography coronary angiography (CTA) in comparison with human reading and conventional coronary angiography (CCA) as the reference standard. 50 patients underwent CTA and CCA and out of these 44 were evaluable for computer-aided stenosis detection. The diagnostic performance of the software and of human reading were compared and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) served as the reference standard for the detection of significant stenosis (>50 %). Overall, three readers with high (reader 1), intermediate (reader 2) and low (reader 3) experience in cardiac CT imaging performed the manual CTA evaluation on a commercially available workstation, whereas the automated software processed the datasets without any human interaction. The prevalence of coronary artery disease was 41 % (18/44) and QCA indicated significant stenosis (>50 %) in 33 coronary vessels. The automated software accurately diagnosed 18 individuals with significant coronary artery disease (CAD), and correctly ruled out CAD in 10 patients. In summary the sensitivity of computer-aided detection was 100 %/94 % (per-patient/per-vessel) and the specificity was 38 %/70 %, the positive predictive value (PPV) was 53 %/42 % and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 100 %/98 %. In comparison, reader 1-3 showed per-patient sensitivities of 100/94/89 %, specificities of 73/69/50 %, PPVs of 72/68/55 % and NPVs of 100/95/87 %. Computer-aided detection yields a high NPV that is comparable to more experienced human readers. However, PPV is rather low and in the range of an unexperienced reader.
Coronary computed tomographic angiography: current role in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease
Bowman, Andrew W.; Kantor, Birgit; Gerber, Thomas C.
Advances in computed tomography (CT) technology allow images to be obtained with high spatial and temporal resolution. These features now permit noninvasive coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Many studies addressing proof of concept, feasibility, and clinical robustness have been published since CCTA was first described. More recently, the scientific evaluation of CCTA has rightly focused less on technical aspects and more on multicenter trials of the diagnostic value of CCTA and on head-to-head comparisons with other noninvasive modalities for the detection of coronary artery disease (CAD), such as stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with radionuclides. Recent peer-reviewed publications that compare CCTA to invasive, selective coronary angiography (SCA) or MPI, or that address radiation protection issues related to CCTA, were reviewed and summarized. Overall, there is high agreement between CCTA and both SCA and MPI for the presence of CAD. However, CCTA can over- or underestimate the severity of CAD compared to SCA as a reference standard. Initial studies that compared CCTA to MPI found their accuracies for determining the presence of high-grade luminal obstructions comparable. Limitations of CCTA include inability to reliably assess the coronary artery lumen dimensions in patients with large amounts of coronary artery calcium, artifacts caused by coronary and respiratory motion, and the need for ionizing radiation and intravenous administration of iodinated contrast material. Various dose reduction methods for CCTA now exist that may substantially lower patient dose to levels less than those of SCA or MPI. Although current expert consensus does not call for CCTA to be a first-line test for CAD, particularly for screening in asymptomatic individuals, current data suggest a promising role in the evaluation of symptomatic patients for possible CAD. PMID:19694220
An Obstructed Anomalous Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Arising from the Right Coronary Artery Requiring Surgical Intervention
Galligan, Sean; Kakauridze, Aleksandre; Marmur, Jonathan D.
A 47-year-old female presented to our hospital with symptoms of stable angina. Cardiac catheterization revealed a rare coronary artery anomaly of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery branching off the right coronary artery ostium. Furthermore, the anomalous LAD artery exhibited significant atherosclerotic obstruction. Our review of the literature found only nine such previously described cases. Due to the unique nature of coronary artery anomalies and their complications, we would like to contribute our case to the medical literature. PMID:27721998
Coronary flow in a prosthetic aorto-coronary bypass graft: first report of Possis Perma-Flow graft physiology in a patient.
Mooney, M J; Emery, R; Kern, M J
The coronary physiology of a prosthetic Perma-Flow coronary bypass graft conduit is demonstrated in the first patient at 1-yr follow-up. Coronary blood flow velocity was measured in the body of the graft and into the side-to-side anastomosis to the first diagonal branch. This case report demonstrates the first information on the coronary and prosthetic graft flow in a patient with atherosclerotic coronary disease.
[Coronary thrombosis and ectasia of coronary arteries after long-term use of anabolic steroids].
Tischer, K-H; Heyny-von Haussen, R; Mall, G; Doenecke, P
Chronic abuse of anabolic steroids is widespread. Hypertrophy of skeletal and heart muscle is a well-known effect of chronic anabolic steroid abuse. Structural alterations of blood vessels are new side effects. We report a case of a 32-year-old bodybuilder after long-term use of anabolic steroids who died of cardiac arrest. Coronary angiography and autopsy findings showed especially a hypertrophic heart, structural changes of coronary arteries, intracoronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction, ventricular thrombosis and systemic embolism PMID:12707792
Cirsoid Aneurysm of Coronary Arteries Associated with Arterioventricular Fistula Evaluated by 64-Multidetector CT Coronary Angiography: Depiction of a Case
Marrone, Gianluca Mamone, Giuseppe; Milazzo, Mariapina; Caruso, Settimo; Baravoglia, Cesar Hernandez; Vitulo, Patrizio; Gridelli, Bruno; Luca, Angelo
A female patient with severe pulmonary hypertension was admitted for lung transplant evaluation. As an incidental finding, the chest CT showed diffuse and dilated coronaries, not detected at previous echocardiography. A coronary CT angiography was then performed using a 64-multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scanner to better evaluate the coronary tree. The images obtained after postprocessing demonstrated tremendously aneurysmatic and tortuous coronary arteries and the presence of a septal branch deepening into the myocardium and penetrating the right ventricle cavity, forming an abnormal arterioventricular fistula. A causal relation between the aneurysms and the fistula is suspected.
Evaluation of coronary microvascular function in patients with vasospastic angina
Teragawa, Hiroki; Mitsuba, Naoya; Ishibashi, Ken; Nishioka, Kenji; Kurisu, Satoshi; Kihara, Yasuki
AIM: To investigate endothelium-dependent and -independent coronary microvascular functions in patients with vasospastic angina (VSA). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with VSA (30 men and 6 women; mean age, 58 years) were enrolled in this study. VSA was defined as ≥ 90% narrowing of the epicardial coronary arteries on angiography performed during a spasm provocation test, presence of chest pain, and/or ST-segment deviation on an electrocardiogram (ECG). Patients (n = 36) with negative spasm provocation test results and those matched for age and sex were enrolled as a control group (nonVSA group). Low-dose acetylcholine (ACh; 3 μg/min) was infused into the left coronary ostium for 2 min during the spasm provocation test. Following the spasm provocation test, nitroglycerin (0.2 mg) was administered intracoronally. Coronary blood flow (was calculated from quantitative angiography and Doppler flow velocity measurements, and the coronary flow reserve was calculated as the ratio of coronary flow velocity after injection of adenosine triphosphate (20 μg) to the baseline value. Changes in the coronary artery diameter in response to ACh and nitroglycerin infusion were expressed as percentage changes from baseline measurements. RESULTS: Body mass index was significantly lower in the VSA group than in the nonVSA group. The frequency of conventional coronary risk factors and the rate of statin use were similar between the 2 groups. The left ventricular ejection fraction as evaluated by echocardiography was similar between the 2 groups. The duration of angina was 9 ± 2 mo. The results of blood chemistry analysis were similar between the 2 groups. Low-dose ACh did not cause coronary spasms. The change in coronary artery diameter in response to ACh was lower in the VSA group (-1.4% ± 9.3%) than in the nonVSA group (3.1% ± 6.5%, P < 0.05), whereas nitroglycerin-induced coronary artery dilatation and coronary blood flow increase in response to ACh or coronary flow reserve did
Nitric oxide and coronary vascular endothelium adaptations in hypertension.
Levy, Andrew S; Chung, Justin C S; Kroetsch, Jeffrey T; Rush, James W E
This review highlights a number of nitric oxide (NO)-related mechanisms that contribute to coronary vascular function and that are likely affected by hypertension and thus become important clinically as potential considerations in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of coronary complications of hypertension. Coronary vascular resistance is elevated in hypertension in part due to impaired endothelium-dependent function of coronary arteries. Several lines of evidence suggest that other NO synthase isoforms and dilators other than NO may compensate for impairments in endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) to protect coronary artery function, and that NO-dependent function of coronary blood vessels depends on the position of the vessel in the vascular tree. Adaptations in NOS isoforms in the coronary circulation to hypertension are not well described so the compensatory relationship between these and eNOS in hypertensive vessels is not clear. It is important to understand potential functional consequences of these adaptations as they will impact the efficacy of treatments designed to control hypertension and coronary vascular disease. Polymorphisms of the eNOS gene result in significant associations with incidence of hypertension, although mechanistic details linking the polymorphisms with alterations in coronary vasomotor responses and adaptations to hypertension are not established. This understanding should be developed in order to better predict those individuals at the highest risk for coronary vascular complications of hypertension. Greater endothelium-dependent dilation observed in female coronary arteries is likely related to endothelial Ca(2+) control and eNOS expression and activity. In hypertension models, the coronary vasculature has not been studied extensively to establish mechanisms for sex differences in NO-dependent function. Genomic and nongenomic effects of estrogen on eNOS and direct and indirect antioxidant activities of estrogen are discussed as
Interventions related to parent-infant attachment.
Denehy, J A
This study of nursing interventions that promote attachment is but one of the building blocks in creating a theoretically strong foundation for nursing practice. With the cooperative and coordinated efforts of nursing theorists, researchers, academicians, and seasoned practitioners, nursing will be able more clearly to define its domain of practice by identifying nursing interventions and the critical and supportive activities that comprise these interventions. With such systematically organized and tested knowledge, nursing practice will become firmly rooted in a knowledge base that will not only lead to improved patient care but enhance professional credibility and satisfaction. PMID:1584698
Nitric Oxide-Mediated Coronary Flow Regulation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: Recent Advances
Toda, Noboru; Tanabe, Shinichi; Nakanishi, Sadanobu
Nitric oxide (NO) formed via endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays crucial roles in the regulation of coronary blood flow through vasodilatation and decreased vascular resistance, and in inhibition of platelet aggregation and adhesion, leading to the prevention of coronary circulatory failure, thrombosis, and atherosclerosis. Endothelial function is impaired by several pathogenic factors including smoking, chronic alcohol intake, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. The mechanisms underlying endothelial dysfunction include reduced NO synthase (NOS) expression and activity, decreased NO bioavailability, and increased production of oxygen radicals and endogenous NOS inhibitors. Atrial fibrillation appears to be a risk factor for endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction is an important predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) in humans. Penile erectile dysfunction, associated with impaired bioavailability of NO produced by eNOS and neuronal NOS, is also considered to be highly predictive of ischemic heart disease. There is evidence suggesting an important role of nitrergic innervation in coronary blood flow regulation. Prophylactic and therapeutic measures to eliminate pathogenic factors inducing endothelial and nitrergic nerve dysfunction would be quite important in preventing the genesis and development of CAD. PMID:22942627
Effectiveness of the hugging balloon technique in coronary angioplasty for a heavy, encircling, calcified coronary lesion.
Ahn, Min Soo; Yoon, Junghan; Lee, Jun Won; Lee, Kyoung Hoon; Kim, Jang Young; Yoo, Byung Su; Lee, Seung Hwan; Choe, Kyung Hoon
We report our experience in coronary angioplasty and intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) on a heavy, encircling, calcified lesion that was not dilated with the use of a cutting balloon and a non-compliant balloon. The angioplasty was successfully performed with a simple and inexpensive hugging balloon technique. PMID:19997547
Association Between Hematological Indices and Coronary Calcification in Symptomatic Patients without History of Coronary Artery Disease
Chaikriangkrai, Kongkiat; Kassi, Mahwash; Alchalabi, Sama; Bala, Sayf Khaleel; Adigun, Rosalyn; Botero, Sharleen; Chang, Su Min
Background: Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) has long been shown to involve chronic low-grade subclinical inflammation. However, whether there is association between hematological indices assessed by complete blood count (CBC) and coronary atherosclerotic burden has not been well studied. Materials and Methods: Consecutive 868 patients without known CAD who presented with acute chest pain to emergency department and underwent coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring evaluation by multi-detector cardiac computed tomography were included in our study. Clinical characteristics and CBC indices were compared among different CAC groups. Results: The cohort comprised 60% male with a mean age of 61 (SD = 14) years. Median Framingham risk of CAD was 4% (range 1-16%). Median CAC score was 0 (IQR 0-43). Higher CAC groups had significantly higher Framingham risk of CAD than lower CAC groups (P < 0.001). Among different CAC categories, there was no statistically significant difference in hemoglobin level (p 0.45), mean corpuscular volume (p 0.43), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p 0.28), mean corpuscular hemoglobin volume (p 0.36), red cell distribution width (0.42), total white blood cell counts (p 0.291), neutrophil counts (p 0.352), lymphocyte counts (p 0.92), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (p 0.68), monocyte count (p 0.48), and platelet counts (p 0.25). Conclusion: Our study did not detect significant association between hematological indices assessed with CBC and coronary calcification in symptomatic patients without known CAD. PMID:25317386
Prognostic Value of Coronary Computed Tomography (CT) Angiography and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Performed Before Revascularization
Fujimoto, Shinichiro; Kondo, Takeshi; Kumamaru, Kanako K; Shinozaki, Tomohiro; Takamura, Kazuhisa; Kawaguchi, Yuko; Matsumori, Rie; Hiki, Makoto; Miyauchi, Katsumi; Daida, Hiroyuki; Rybicki, Frank J
Background Cardiac events after revascularization are equally attributable to recurrence at site of culprit lesions and development of nonculprit lesions. We evaluated the hypothesis that coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and coronary artery calcium score (CACS) performed before revascularization predicts cardiac events after treatment. Methods and Results Among 2238 consecutive patients without known coronary artery disease who underwent coronary CT angiography and CACS, 359 patients underwent revascularization within 30 days after CT; in 337 of 359 (93.9%) follow-up clinical information was available. In addition to known cardiac risk factors, CT findings were evaluated as predictors of cardiac events after revascularization: CACS and the presence of CT-verified high-risk plaque (CT-HRP). Improvement of predictive accuracy by including CT findings was evaluated from a discrimination (Harrell's C-statistics) standpoint. During the follow-up period (median: 673, interquartile range: 47 to 1529 days), a total of 98 cardiac events occurred. Cox proportional hazard model revealed that age, diabetes, triglyceride, CACS, and nonculprit CT-HRP were significant predictors of overall cardiac events. Although not statistically significant, discriminatory power was greater for the model with CACS (C-stat: 63.2%) and the model with both CACS and CT-HRP (65.8%) compared to the model including neither CACS nor CT-HRP (60.7%). Conclusions High CACS and the presence of nonculprit CT-HRP performed before revascularization are significant predictors of cardiac events after revascularization. PMID:26296858
Robotically assisted atraumatic coronary artery bypass: a feasible option for off-pump coronary surgery.
Khoshbin, Espeed; Martin, Shirley; Foale, Rodney; Darzi, Ara; Casula, Roberto
This retrospective study of the largest single center experience (100 patients) with off-pump robotically assisted coronary procedures in the United Kingdom (April 2002-June 2008) aimed to rationalize patient selection, describe the technique, and determine the learning curve, technical feasibility and operative outcome of robotically assisted Atraumatic Coronary Artery Bypass (ACAB). Selected patients underwent either a robotic Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass (12) or robotically assisted ACAB (88) using a standard Da Vinci robot with three arms. A fifth of all cases had percutaneous interventions as part of a hybrid strategy. The majority of patients were overweight men. After one hundred robotic coronary procedures, this operation is now performed as part of a routine theatre list. The mean operative and total procedure times for robotically assisted atraumatic procedures were 157 and 238 min, respectively. These measurements were significantly less in the atraumatic than the totally endoscopic group with a 34.3 and 20.6% reduction, respectively (P < 0.001; equal variance not assumed). The procedural learning curve was short and independent from internal thoracic artery harvesting. We have proven conclusively that robotically assisted ACAB is feasible, more so than the totally endoscopic procedure in this particular setting. Even in the absence of an ideal stabilizer device, this procedure causes minimal disruption to the daily operating room schedule. We have also proven that body mass index is a weak predictor of the ease of robotic internal thoracic artery harvesting and should not affect patient selection. PMID:27628777
Coronary flow reserve and oesophageal dysfunction in syndrome X.
Chauhan, A.; Mullins, P. A.; Gill, R.; Taylor, G.; Petch, M. C.; Schofield, P. M.
The relative prevalence of abnormalities of coronary flow reserve and oesophageal function was ascertained in 32 syndrome X patients with typical angina chest pain, a positive exercise test, and normal coronary arteries. Coronary flow reserve in response to a hyperaemic dose of papaverine was measured using an intracoronary Doppler catheter positioned in the left anterior descending coronary artery. An abnormal coronary flow reserve was defined as being < 3.0. Patients were investigated for oesophageal dysfunction by manometry and 24-hour pH monitoring. Thirteen patients had an impaired coronary flow reserve (group 1) and 19 patients had a normal flow reserve (group 2). Eight of the 13 group 1 patients (62%) and 13 of the 19 group 2 patients (68%, p = NS) had evidence of oesophageal dysfunction on either manometry or pH studies. Therefore, a total of 26 (81%) syndrome X patients had either an abnormality of coronary flow reserve or oesophageal dysfunction suggesting that chest pain in these patients may be due to myocardial ischaemia or oesophageal dysfunction, thus confirming the heterogeneous nature of this syndrome. The prevalence of oesophageal abnormalities was independent of any abnormalities of coronary flow reserve. PMID:8871460
Nickel chloride inhibits metabolic coronary vasodilatation in isolated rat hearts
Edoute, Y.; Rubanyi, G.M.; Vanhoutte, P.M.
Nickel is a potent coronary vasoconstrictor and it is released from ischemic myocardium. To determine whether or not nickel ions cause coronary vasoconstriction when local vasodilator mechanisms are stimulated the authors studied the inter-relation between exogenous nickel chloride (NiCl/sub 2/) and metabolic coronary vasodilatation in isolated rat hearts perfused by a modified Langendorff technique. NiCl/sub 2/ induced dose-dependent (10/sup -7/-10/sup -5/M) increases in coronary vascular resistance in spontaneously beating hearts. Pacing of the hearts (380/min) and infusing adenosine (10/sup -6/M) evoked comparable increases in coronary flow but did not affect the coronary vasoconstriction caused by NiCl/sub 2/. At concentrations (> 10/sup -7/M) which evoked vasoconstriction, NiCl/sub 2/ significantly reduced vasodilator responses evoked by pacing, transient coronary occlusion and adenosine. Lower concentrations, which did not cause vasoconstriction, had no effect on these vasodilator responses. Thus, at relative low concentrations NiCl/sub 2/ inhibits metabolic dilatation of the coronary vessels which may contribute to the increased vascular resistance caused by the trace metal under ischemic/hypoxic conditions.
Coronary blood flow in the anesthetized American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).
Jensen, Bjarke; Elfwing, Magnus; Elsey, Ruth M; Wang, Tobias; Crossley, Dane A
Coronary circulation of the heart evolved early within ectothermic vertebrates and became of vital importance to cardiac performance in some teleost fish, mammals and birds. In contrast, the role and function of the coronary circulation in ectothermic reptiles remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the systemic and coronary arterial responses of five anesthetized juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) to hypoxia, acetylcholine, adenosine, sodium nitroprusside, isoproterenol, and phenylephrine. We recorded electrocardiograms, monitored systemic blood pressure, blood flows in both aortae, and blood flow in a major coronary artery supplying most of the right ventricle. Coronary arterial blood flow was generally forward, but there was a brief retrograde flow during a ventricular contraction. Blood pressure was significantly changed in all conditions. Acetylcholine decreased coronary forward flow, but this response was confounded by the concomitant lowered work of the ventricles due to decreased heart rate and blood pressure. Coronary forward flow was poorly correlated with heart rate and mean arterial pressure across treatments. Overall changes in coronary forward flow, significant and not significant, were generally in the same direction as mean arterial pressure and ventricular power, approximated as the product of systemic cardiac output and mean arterial pressure. PMID:26436857
Coronary blood flow in the anesthetized American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).
Jensen, Bjarke; Elfwing, Magnus; Elsey, Ruth M; Wang, Tobias; Crossley, Dane A
Coronary circulation of the heart evolved early within ectothermic vertebrates and became of vital importance to cardiac performance in some teleost fish, mammals and birds. In contrast, the role and function of the coronary circulation in ectothermic reptiles remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated the systemic and coronary arterial responses of five anesthetized juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) to hypoxia, acetylcholine, adenosine, sodium nitroprusside, isoproterenol, and phenylephrine. We recorded electrocardiograms, monitored systemic blood pressure, blood flows in both aortae, and blood flow in a major coronary artery supplying most of the right ventricle. Coronary arterial blood flow was generally forward, but there was a brief retrograde flow during a ventricular contraction. Blood pressure was significantly changed in all conditions. Acetylcholine decreased coronary forward flow, but this response was confounded by the concomitant lowered work of the ventricles due to decreased heart rate and blood pressure. Coronary forward flow was poorly correlated with heart rate and mean arterial pressure across treatments. Overall changes in coronary forward flow, significant and not significant, were generally in the same direction as mean arterial pressure and ventricular power, approximated as the product of systemic cardiac output and mean arterial pressure.
Fetal growth and coronary heart disease in south India.
Stein, C E; Fall, C H; Kumaran, K; Osmond, C; Cox, V; Barker, D J
People from India living overseas have high rates of coronary heart disease which are not explained by known coronary risk factors. In India, coronary heart disease is predicted to become the most common cause of death within 15 years. Small size at birth is a newly described risk factor for coronary heart disease. The authors studied 517 men and women born between 1934 and 1954 in a mission hospital in Mysore, South India, and who still lived near the hospital. Researchers related the prevalence of coronary heart disease, defined by standard criteria, to individual birth size. 25 men and 27 women had coronary heart disease. Low birth weight, short birth length, and small head circumference were associated with a raised prevalence of the disease. The associations were stronger and statistically significant among people aged 45 years and over. High rates of disease were also found in those whose mothers had a low body weight during pregnancy. The highest prevalence of coronary heart disease was in people who weighed 2.5 kg or less at birth and whose mothers weighed less than 45 kg during pregnancy. These associations were largely independent of known coronary risk factors.
Coronary Artery Dissection: Not Just a Heart Attack
... Stroke More Coronary Artery Dissection: Not Just a Heart Attack Updated:May 24,2016 Sometimes a heart attack ... Disease Go Red For Women Types of aneurysms Heart Attack • Home • About Heart Attacks Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) • ...
Coronary artery surgery: now and in the next decade.
Ennker, J C; Ennker, I C
In coronary artery surgery the superiority of the internal mammary artery graft in 10-year survival was documented in 1986. In 1999 it was demonstrated that death, reoperation and percutaneous transluminary coronary angioplasty were more frequent in patients undergoing single rather than bilateral internal mammary artery grafting. Today coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is challenged by the success story of modern interventional cardiology. The Syntax Study, however, clearly underlined the better outcome for patients with triple-vessel and/or left main disease undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting in terms of repeat revascularization. Another point of ongoing discussion is the comparison between on-pump and off-pump coronary artery revascularization techniques. Even if mixed results exists in the literature, in experienced hands the combination of aortic no-touch and total arterial revascularization, probably leads to the superiority in off pump coronary artery bypass grafting in terms of significantly decreased rates of mortality, stroke, major adverse cardiac and cerebral vascular events. Coronary artery surgery in the next decade will be influenced by the further progression of minimally invasive surgical principles and by a variety of other factors. The role of robotics and hybrid surgery has yet to be defined. Alternatives within surgery will not only need to move to a less disruptive strategy (e.g. from on-pump to off-pump bypass) but also have to secure sustained innovation, as we can be sure that the current coronary artery bypass grafting activity will change substantially.
Acute coronary syndrome after levamisole-adultered cocaine abuse.
Michaud, Katarzyna; Grabherr, Silke; Shiferaw, Kebede; Doenz, Franceso; Augsburger, Marc; Mangin, Patrice
Cocaine is a well known trigger of acute coronary syndromes. Over the last 10 years levamisole, a veterinary anthelminthic drug has been increasingly used as an adulterant of cocaine. Levamisole was used to treat pediatric nephritic syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis before being withdrawn from the market due to its significant toxicity, i.e. hematological complications and vasculitis. The major complications of levamisole-adultered cocaine reported up to now are hematological and dermatological. The case reported here is of a 25 year old man with a history of cocaine abuse who died at home after complaining of retrosternal pain. Postmortem CT-angiography, autopsy, and chemical and toxicological analyses were performed. An eroded coronary artery plaque was found at the proximal segment of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Two myocardial infarct scars were present in the left ventricle. Microscopic examination of the coronary artery revealed infiltration of eosinophils into the adventitia and intima. Toxicological examination confirmed the presence of cocaine and its metabolites in the peripheral blood, and of levamisole in the urine and pericardial fluid. Eosinophilic inflammatory coronary artery pathologies have been clinically linked to coronary dissection, hypersensitivity coronary syndrome and vasospastic allergic angina. The coronary pathology in the presented case could be a complication of levamisole-adultered cocaine use, in which an allergic or immune-mediated mechanism might play a role. The rise in cocaine addiction worldwide and the increase of levamisole adulterated cocaine highlights the importance of updating our knowledge of the effects of adultered cocaine abuse. PMID:24365689
Survival with Total Occlusion of Left Main Coronary Artery
Choh, Joong H.; Wang, Timothy; Golbus, Glenn A.; Leskovac, Thomas M.; Nazarian, Arthur; Ihm, H. Jae; Khazei, A. Hassan
Complete occlusion of the left main coronary artery is considered to be a terminal event in most cases. We describe two patients with this lesion who underwent successful coronary bypass surgery with complete relief of symptoms and long-term survival. The angiographic findings and clinical management of the two patients are discussed. * Images PMID:15227097
Transesophageal echocardiography assessment of severe ostial left main coronary stenosis
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Firstenberg, M. S.; Greenberg, N. L.; Lin, S. S.; Garcia, M. J.; Alexander, L. A.; Thomas, J. D.
Doppler echocardiography is commonly used in the assessment of stenotic valvular orifices. We describe the application of transesophageal echocardiography for the detection of a critical ostial left main coronary stenosis. Because preoperative coronary angiography often is not routinely performed in young patients undergoing valve surgery, application of Doppler echocardiography can potentially prevent catastrophic complications, particularly in atypical cases.
Effects of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention on Serum Angiopoietin-2 in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Zeng, Zhi-Yu; Gui, Chun; Li, Lang; Wei, Xiao-Min
Background: Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) plays a crucial role in hypoxia-induced angiogenesis and is expressed only in sites of vascular remodeling. Ang-2 expression can be regulated by hypoxia inducible factors and other regulators with exposure to hypoxia. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on serum Ang-2 concentrations, and analyze the correlation between serum Ang-2 and the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Methods: Sixty-four patients with CHD were selected as the study group, each undergone PCI. Thirty-two healthy subjects were selected as the control group. Pre-PCI and post-PCI serum Ang-2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of coronary artery stenosis was evaluated using angiographic Gensini scores, and the coronary collateral vessels were scored according to Rentrop's classification. Results: Concentrations of pre-PCI serum Ang-2 in the study group were significantly higher than those in the control group (4625.06 ± 1838.06 vs. 1945.74 ± 1588.17 pg/ml, P < 0.01); however, concentrations of post-PCI serum Ang-2 were significantly lower than those of pre-PCI (3042.63 ± 1845.33 pg/ml vs. 4625.06 ± 1838.06 pg/ml, P < 0.01). Concentrations of pre-PCI serum Ang-2 were significantly correlated with Gensini scores (r = 0.488, P < 0.01); however, the decrease in serum Ang-2 after PCI was not correlated with Gensini scores, coronary collateral vessel grading, or left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions: Serum Ang-2 concentrations significantly increased in patients with CHD, and PCI treatment significantly decreased these concentrations. Serum Ang-2 concentrations, but not the decrease in serum Ang-2 concentrations, were significantly correlated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis. These results suggested that Ang-2 may be a biomarker of myocardial ischemia and vessel remodeling. PMID:26960364
Coronary Stents: The Impact of Technological Advances on Clinical Outcomes.
Mennuni, Marco G; Pagnotta, Paolo A; Stefanini, Giulio G
Percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) were proposed in the late 1970s as an alternative to surgical coronary artery bypass grafting for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Important technological progress has been made since. Balloon angioplasty was replaced by bare metal stents, which allowed to permanently scaffold the coronary vessel avoiding acute recoil and abrupt occlusion. Thereafter, the introduction of early generation drug-eluting stents (DES) has significantly improved clinical outcomes, primarily by markedly reducing the risk of restenosis. New generation DES with thinner stent struts, novel durable or biodegradable polymer coatings, and new limus antiproliferative agents, have further improved upon the safety and efficacy profile of early generation DES. The present article aims to review the impact of technological advances on clinical outcomes in the field of PCI with coronary stents, and to provide a brief overview on clinical margins of improvement and unmet needs of available DES.
Spontaneous Coronary Dissection: "Live Flash" Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Angioplasty.
Bento, Angela Pimenta; Fernandes, Renato Gil Dos Santos Pinto; Neves, David Cintra Henriques Silva; Patrício, Lino Manuel Ribeiro; de Aguiar, José Eduardo Chambel
Optical Coherence tomography (OCT) is a light-based imaging modality which shows tremendous potential in the setting of coronary imaging. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The diagnosis of SCAD is made mainly with invasive coronary angiography, although adjunctive imaging modalities such as computed tomography angiography, IVUS, and OCT may increase the diagnostic yield. The authors describe a clinical case of a young woman admitted with the diagnosis of ACS. The ACS was caused by SCAD detected in the coronary angiography and the angioplasty was guided by OCT. OCT use in the setting of SCAD has been already described and the true innovation in this case was this unique use of OCT. The guidance of angioplasty with live and short images was very useful as it allowed clearly identifying the position of the guidewires at any given moment without the use of prohibitive amounts of contrast. PMID:26989520
Prediction of cardiovascular outcomes by imaging coronary atherosclerosis
Pathan, Faraz
Over the last two decades, several invasive and non-invasive coronary atherosclerosis imaging modalities have emerged as predictors of cardiovascular outcomes in at-risk population. These modalities have demonstrated independent or incremental prognostic information over existing/standard risk stratification schemes, such as the Framingham risk score (FRS), by identifying characteristics of coronary artery diseases (CADs). In this review, we begin with discussing the importance of pre-test probability and quality of outcome measure, followed by specific findings of each modality in relation to prognosis. We focused on both short and long term prognostic aspects of coronary computed tomography (CT) (including coronary calcium score and coronary angiography) and magnetic resonance imaging as non-invasive tools, as well as invasive modalities including intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), near infrared spectroscopy and Angioscopy. PMID:27500091
Spontaneous Coronary Dissection: "Live Flash" Optical Coherence Tomography Guided Angioplasty.
Bento, Angela Pimenta; Fernandes, Renato Gil Dos Santos Pinto; Neves, David Cintra Henriques Silva; Patrício, Lino Manuel Ribeiro; de Aguiar, José Eduardo Chambel
Optical Coherence tomography (OCT) is a light-based imaging modality which shows tremendous potential in the setting of coronary imaging. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an infrequent cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The diagnosis of SCAD is made mainly with invasive coronary angiography, although adjunctive imaging modalities such as computed tomography angiography, IVUS, and OCT may increase the diagnostic yield. The authors describe a clinical case of a young woman admitted with the diagnosis of ACS. The ACS was caused by SCAD detected in the coronary angiography and the angioplasty was guided by OCT. OCT use in the setting of SCAD has been already described and the true innovation in this case was this unique use of OCT. The guidance of angioplasty with live and short images was very useful as it allowed clearly identifying the position of the guidewires at any given moment without the use of prohibitive amounts of contrast.
Imaging of coronary atherosclerosis and identification of the vulnerable plaque
de Feyter, P.J.; Serruys, P. W.; Nieman, K.; Mollet, N.; Cademartiri, F.; van Geuns, R. J.; Slager, C.; van der Steen, A.F.W.; Krams, R.; Schaar, J.A.; Wielopolski, P.; Pattynama, P.M.T.; Arampatzis, A.; van der Lugt, A.; Regar, E.; Ligthart, J.; Smits, P.
Identification of the vulnerable plaque responsible for the occurrence of acute coronary syndromes and acute coronary death is a prerequisite for the stabilisation of this vulnerable plaque. Comprehensive coronary atherosclerosis imaging in clinical practice should involve visualisation of the entire coronary artery tree and characterisation of the plaque, including the three-dimensional morphology of the plaque, encroachment of the plaque on the vessel lumen, the major tissue components of the plaque, remodelling of the vessel and presence of inflammation. Obviously, no single diagnostic modality is available that provides such comprehensive imaging and unfortunately no diagnostic tool is available that unequivocally identifies the vulnerable plaque. The objective of this article is to discuss experience with currently available diagnostic modalities for coronary atherosclerosis imaging. In addition, a number of evolving techniques will be briefly discussed. ImagesFigure 1Figure 2Figure 3Figure 4Figure 5Figure 6Figure 7 PMID:25696244
Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery: an autopsied sudden death case with severe atherosclerotic disease of the left coronary artery.
Nagai, T; Mukai, T; Takahashi, S; Takada, A; Saito, K; Harada, K; Mori, S; Abe, N
Anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare anomaly. It may contribute to myocardial ischemia or sudden death, although the lesion is usually asymptomatic. We report a sudden death case of a 58-year-old man with ARCAPA coexisting with severe atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. He had been healthy until he complained of chest pain, several days before death, despite the discovery of heart murmur in childhood and suspicion of valvular heart disease. The autopsy revealed not only typical findings of the right coronary anomaly with well-developed collateral circulations but also severe atherosclerotic lesions of the left coronary artery, and ischemic change of the myocardium in the left and right coronary arterial perfusion territory. In addition to the "coronary steal" phenomenon primarily caused by ARCAPA, the reduced flow of both coronary arteries and further increase of "coronary steal" due to atherosclerotic obstructive coronary disease might have contributed to the patient's death.
DECT evaluation of noncalcified coronary artery plaque
Ravanfar Haghighi, Rezvan; Chatterjee, S.; Tabin, Milo; Singh, Rishi P.; Sharma, Munish; Krishna, Karthik; Sharma, Sanjiv; Jagia, Priya; Ray, Ruma; Arava, Sudhir; Yadav, Rakesh; Vani, V. C.; Lakshmi, R.; Kumar, Pratik; Mandal, Susama R.
Purpose: Composition of the coronary artery plaque is known to have critical role in heart attack. While calcified plaque can easily be diagnosed by conventional CT, it fails to distinguish between fibrous and lipid rich plaques. In the present paper, the authors discuss the experimental techniques and obtain a numerical algorithm by which the electron density (ρ{sub e}) and the effective atomic number (Z{sub eff}) can be obtained from the dual energy computed tomography (DECT) data. The idea is to use this inversion method to characterize and distinguish between the lipid and fibrous coronary artery plaques. Methods: For the purpose of calibration of the CT machine, the authors prepare aqueous samples whose calculated values of (ρ{sub e}, Z{sub eff}) lie in the range of (2.65 × 10{sup 23} ≤ ρ{sub e} ≤ 3.64 × 10{sup 23}/cm{sup 3}) and (6.80 ≤ Z{sub eff} ≤ 8.90). The authors fill the phantom with these known samples and experimentally determine HU(V{sub 1}) and HU(V{sub 2}), with V{sub 1},V{sub 2} = 100 and 140 kVp, for the same pixels and thus determine the coefficients of inversion that allow us to determine (ρ{sub e}, Z{sub eff}) from the DECT data. The HU(100) and HU(140) for the coronary artery plaque are obtained by filling the channel of the coronary artery with a viscous solution of methyl cellulose in water, containing 2% contrast. These (ρ{sub e}, Z{sub eff}) values of the coronary artery plaque are used for their characterization on the basis of theoretical models of atomic compositions of the plaque materials. These results are compared with histopathological report. Results: The authors find that the calibration gives ρ{sub e} with an accuracy of ±3.5% while Z{sub eff} is found within ±1% of the actual value, the confidence being 95%. The HU(100) and HU(140) are found to be considerably different for the same plaque at the same position and there is a linear trend between these two HU values. It is noted that pure lipid type plaques
Influence of metal alloy and the profile of coronary stents in patients with multivessel coronary disease
Maurício de Abreu Filho, Luciano; da Cruz Forte, Antonio Artur; Kiyoshi Sumita, Marcos; Favarato, Desidério; César Ximenes Meireles, George
BACKGROUND: In Brazil, despite the recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Hemodynamics and Interventional Cardiology, the National Health System has not yet approved the use of drug-eluting stents. In percutaneous coronary interventions performed in the public and part of the private health care system, bare metal stents are used as the only option. Therefore, new information on bare metal stents is of great importance. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the influence of the alloy and the profile of coronary stents on late loss and restenosis rates 6 months after implantation in patients with multivessel coronary disease. METHODS: Single center, randomized and prospective study comparison of cobalt–chromium versus stainless steel stent implantation in 187 patients with multivessel coronary disease. At least one cobalt–chromium and one stainless steel stent were implanted per patient. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 59.5±10.1 years with a prevalence of males (66.3%) and patients with acute coronary syndrome (56%). Baseline clinical characteristics were similar with hypertension in 146 (78%), dyslipidemia in 85 (45.5%) and diabetes in 68 (36.4%). Two hundred and twenty-nine cobalt–chromium and 284 stainless steel stents were implanted. Angiographic variables showed no statistically significant difference. Angiographic follow-up to 6 months after implantation showed similar late loss and restenosis rates. CONCLUSION: The use of two different alloys, stainless steel and cobalt–chrome stents, in the same patient and in the same vessel produced similar 6-month restenosis and late loss rates. PMID:21808863
Prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in an Asian population: findings from coronary computed tomographic angiography.
Park, Gyung-Min; Yun, Sung-Cheol; Cho, Young-Rak; Gil, Eun Ha; Her, Sung Ho; Kim, Seon Ha; Jo, Min-Woo; Lee, Moo Song; Lee, Seung-Whan; Kim, Young-Hak; Yang, Dong Hyun; Kang, Joon-Won; Lim, Tae-Hwan; Kim, Beom-Jun; Koh, Jung-Min; Kim, Hong-Kyu; Choe, Jaewon; Park, Seong-Wook; Park, Seung-Jung
We sought to estimate the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) and to identify risk factors attributable to the development of coronary atherosclerosis in an asymptomatic Asian population. We analyzed 6,311 consecutive asymptomatic individuals aged 40 and older with no prior history of coronary artery disease (CAD) who voluntarily underwent CCTA evaluation as part of a general health examination. The mean age of study participants was 54.7 ± 7.4 years, and 4,594 (72.8%) were male. After age and gender adjustment using the population census of the National Statistical Office, the prevalence of plaque was 40.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 38.1-42.9], and significant CAD (diameter stenosis ≥50%) was observed in 9.0% (95% CI 7.7-10.2). Individuals with significant CAD were significantly older than those without (59.2 ± 8.8 vs. 54.0 ± 7.1 years, p < 0.001). Compared with individuals with no cardiovascular risk factors, there was a higher prevalence of significant CAD in individuals with diabetes mellitus [standardized rate ratio (SRR) 2.66; 95% CI 1.93-3.68; p < 0.001], hypertension (SRR 2.24; 95% CI 1.69-2.97; p < 0.001), or hyperlipidemia (SRR 1.65; 95% CI 1.25-2.17; p < 0.001). There was also a greater prevalence of significant CAD in individuals with an intermediate or high Framingham risk score (SRR 5.91; 95% CI 2.34-14.95; p < 0.001) or a high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score (SRR 8.04; 95% CI 3.04-21.23; p < 0.001). The prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis in this Asian population was not negligible and was associated with known cardiovascular risk factors and high-risk individuals.
Acute coronary syndrome in Behcet's disease caused by a coronary artery aneurysm and thrombosis
Tekin, Bahar; Özen, Gülsen; Tekayev, Nazar; Gerçek, Şeyma; Direskeneli, Haner
Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystemic vasculitis that can involve vessels of all sizes and is characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers with variable manifestations affecting the skin, eyes, and central nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Vascular involvement in BD is reported to be up to 40% in different series. The abdominal and thoracic aorta and pulmonary and femoral arteries are the most commonly involved arteries. However coronary arteries are rarely affected. Herein, we present a 29-year-old man who was consulted with progressive severe chest pain of 3 days in duration to our clinic. The patient was diagnosed with BD with mucocutaneous symptoms and a positive pathergy test 1 year ago and was in clinical remission for the last 6 months. At the first evaluation in the emergency department, the patient's vital signs were stable, whereas he had elevated troponin T levels with a normal electrocardiogram and hypokinetic areas in the apex of the heart in the echocardiography. Conventional and computed tomography coronary angiography revealed aneurysms and intramural thrombosis in the left anterior descending and right coronary arteries. Although ischemic symptoms and signs improved with anticoagulant and antiaggregant therapies, coronary aneurysms were observed to increase in size. Immunosuppressive (IS) treatment was started with pulse intravenous corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide. Because of the high re-stenosis risk, stents were not applied to the affected vessels during the acute thrombosis period. During routine investigations, an in situ pulmonary thrombosis was also detected bilaterally in the peripheral pulmonary arteries. In conclusion, coronary artery aneurysm is a rare and poor prognostic manifestation of BD. The treatment protocol for these aneurysms is not well clarified. IS therapies are definitely indicated, but the role of anticoagulants and invasive vascular interventions is controversial.
Efficacy of diltiazem for coronary artery spasm.
Schroeder, J S
The introduction of calcium entry blockers which caused marked vascular smooth muscle relaxation with minimal effects on myocardial contractility have provided a new approach to the patient with angina due to coronary artery spasm. Multiple, double-blinded, randomized studies of diltiazem versus placebo have demonstrated that this agent results in reduction in angina frequency and nitroglycerin consumption by 30% to 70% with a demonstrated dose response. A long-term, open label follow-up study of 18 patients who participated in a 44-week prospective, double-blind crossover trial of 240 mg of diltiazem versus placebo for prophylaxis of angina in patients with coronary artery spasm demonstrated a 75% decrease in angina attacks during the first five months of the study and an 80% decrease compared to the placebo period during the second six months. Both the short- and long-term studies have demonstrated very few adverse side effects, less than 7%. A recent long-term study of 43 patients who took diltiazem regularly and were followed in the Coronary Artery Spasm Clinic at Stanford University Medical Center for a mean of 19.6 months (range 6 to 28.5 months) was analyzed for cardiovascular events in the 19.6 months prior to therapy and the 19.6 months after the initiation of therapy. Cardiovascular events on diltiazem, including sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and hospitalization to rule out myocardial infarction utilizing a binomial distribution showed over a 90% reduction compared to the pre-diltiazem period. Adverse effects were reported in six patients who reported minimal to mild pedal oedema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:3904332
The Pathobiology of Acute Coronary Syndromes
Buja, L. Maximilian
Ongoing investigation has provided new insights into the pathobiology of myocardial ischemic injury. These include an improved understanding of the roles of the major modes of cell injury and death, including oncosis, apoptosis, and unregulated autophagy, as well as the central role of the mitochondria in the progression of myocardial ischemic injury, reperfusion injury, and myocardial conditioning. This understanding is providing insights for developing new pathophysiologic, pharmacologic, and cell-based therapies, alone or in combination with percutaneous coronary interventions, for better preservation of myocardium and reduction of morbidity and mortality rates from ischemic heart disease. PMID:23914009
Conduits for Coronary Bypass: Vein Grafts
Farkas, Emily A
The saphenous vein has been the principal conduit for coronary bypass grafting from the beginning, circa 1970. This report briefly traces this history and concomitantly presents one surgeons experience and personal views on use of the vein graft. As such it is not exhaustive but meant to be practical with a modest number of references. The focus is that of providing guidance and perspective which may be at variance with that of others and recognizing that there may be many ways to accomplish the task at hand. Hopefully the surgeon in training/early career may find this instructive on the journey to surgical maturity. PMID:23130300
Concomitant Carotid and Coronary Artery Reconstruction
Craver, Joseph M.; Murphy, Douglas A.; Jones, Ellis L.; Curling, Patrick E.; Bone, David K.; Smith, Robert B.; Perdue, Garland D.; Hatcher, Charles R.; Kandrach, Michael
Data are presented on 68 patients who underwent concomitant carotid endarterectomy (CE) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CAB) at Emory University Hospital from January 1974 to February 1981. This group is then compared with a randomly selected, matched population without known carotid disease who underwent CAB alone. Asymptomatic bruit was the reason for investigation in 40 patients (59%); another 23 patients (34%) experienced transient cerebral ischemic attacks (TIAs); and five patients (7%) had TIA and prior stroke. Carotid stenoses (>75% luminal narrowing) were demonstrated as follows: isolated left, 24 patients; isolated right, 27 patients; and bilateral lesions, 16 patients. One patient had innominate artery stenosis. Associated total occlusion of one or both vertebral arteries was demonstrated in six patients. Ninety-seven per cent of patients had disabling angina pectoris prior to operation; the angina was unstable in 57%, 15% had congestive heart failure, and 54% had had at least one prior myocardial infarction (MI). Single-vessel coronary disease was present in 12.5% of patients, double in 37.5%, triple in 41.1%, and left main stenosis in 9%; 43% of patients had abnormal ventricular contractility. CE was performed on 67 patients (36 left and 31 right); aortocarotid bypass was performed on one. The CE procedures were performed immediately prior to the sternotomy for CAB under the same anesthesia. CAB consisted of single bypass in eight patients (11.8%); double in 16 patients (23.5%); triple in 22 patients (32.4%); and quadruple or more in 22 patients (32.4%) (mean = 2.9 grafts per patient). There was no hospital mortality. Perioperative MI occurred in 2.0% and stroke with residual deficit in 1.3%. Cumulative survival is 98.5% at two years. Sixty-three patients (92%) reported improvement or elimination of anginal symptoms after operation. Rehospitalization for stroke was necessary in 3.7% patients. Postoperative activity levels are; self-care only, 3
Conduits for coronary bypass: vein grafts.
Barner, Hendrick B; Farkas, Emily A
The saphenous vein has been the principal conduit for coronary bypass grafting from the beginning, circa 1970. This report briefly traces this history and concomitantly presents one surgeons experience and personal views on use of the vein graft. As such it is not exhaustive but meant to be practical with a modest number of references. The focus is that of providing guidance and perspective which may be at variance with that of others and recognizing that there may be many ways to accomplish the task at hand. Hopefully the surgeon in training/early career may find this instructive on the journey to surgical maturity. PMID:23130300
Triple, simultaneous, very late coronary stent thrombosis.
Vieira, Miguel Silva; Luz, André; Anjo, Diana; Antunes, Nuno; Santos, Mário; Carvalho, Henrique; Torres, Severo
Coronary artery stent thrombosis is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic complication. The risk of very late stent thrombosis (VLST) raises important safety issues regarding the first generation of drug-eluting stents (DES). Although several complex mechanisms for VLST have been suggested and various predictors have been described, its pathophysiology is not completely understood and it is not known whether longer-term dual antiplatelet therapy reduces the risk. We present a rare case of simultaneous very late DES thrombosis in the three vascular territories, following discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy seven years after stent placement, presenting as cardiogenic shock.
Two-vessel coronary artery dissection in the peripartum period. Case report and literature review.
Madu, E C; Kosinski, D J; Wilson, W R; Burket, M W; Fraker, T D; Ansel, G M
The authors report a case of early peripartum myocardial infarction resulting from spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending coronary artery and right coronary artery in a twenty-four-year-old woman. This is the first report of double-vessel coronary dissection involving both the left and right coronary arteries diagnosed antemortem and successfully treated.
Giant coronary aneurysm caused by Kawasaki disease: consistency between catheter angiography and electrocardiogram gated dual-source computed tomography angiography.
Hwang, Eun-Ha; Ju, Jung-Ki; Cho, Min-Jung; Lee, Ji-Won; Lee, Hyoung-Doo
We present the case of a 5-year-old child with coronary complications due to Kawasaki disease; this patient unintentionally underwent both dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) coronary angiography and invasive coronary angiographic examination in 2 months. This case highlights the strong consistency of the results between DSCT coronary angiography and invasive coronary angiography. Compared to conventional invasive coronary angiography, DSCT coronary angiography offered additional advantages such as minimal invasiveness and less radiation exposure. PMID:26770226
[Spontaneous coronary artery dissection treated by intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous coronary intervention: case report and review of the literature].
Ciliberti, Giuseppe; Notaristefano, Francesco; Sclafani, Rocco; Notaristefano, Salvatore; Giombolini, Claudio; Fortunati, Federico; Ambrosio, Giuseppe; Cavallini, Claudio
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a non-atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, which typically affects women with a low cardiovascular risk profile, and its prevalence as a cause of acute coronary syndrome and sudden death is probably under-recognized. The pathophysiology of SCAD consists essentially in the formation of an intramural hematoma, with or without intimal tear, which causes luminal compression and obstruction. The most used technique for the diagnosis of SCAD is coronary angiography. Intravascular imaging tools, such as intravascular ultrasound and optical coherence tomography, provide a more accurate characterization of the coronary wall, allowing diagnosis when angiography is unclear. We present the case of a young woman admitted with typical chest pain associated with electrocardiographic changes and elevated cardiac troponin I.
Pathophysiology of Coronary Thrombus Formation and Adverse Consequences of Thrombus During PCI
Srikanth, Sundararajan; Ambrose, John A
Atherosclerosis is a systemic vascular pathology that is preceded by endothelial dysfunction. Vascular inflammation "fuels" atherosclerosis and creates the milieu for episodes of intravascular thromboses. Thrombotic events in the coronary vasculature may lead to asymptomatic progression of atherosclerosis or could manifest as acute coronary syndromes or even sudden cardiac death. Thrombus encountered in the setting of acute coronary syndromes has been correlated with acute complications during percutaneous coronary interventions such as no-reflow, acute coronary occlusion and long term complications such as stent thrombus. This article reviews the pathophysiology of coronary thrombogenesis and explores the complications associated with thrombus during coronary interventions. PMID:22920487
Coronary blood flow is slower in prediabetic and diabetic patients with normal coronary arteries compared with nondiabetic patients
Arslan, Uğur; Balcı, Mustafa Mücahit; Kocaoğlu, İbrahim
OBJECTIVE: To compare coronary blood flow in diabetic, prediabetic and nondiabetic patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries. METHODS: In the present retrospective study, 759 patients with normal coronary arteries who underwent coronary angiography between January 2010 and July 2011 were enrolled. The angiograms of eligible patients were reviewed again for thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame counts. Patients were subsequently grouped according to their diabetes mellitus (DM) status: group 1 nondiabetic; group 2 prediabetic; and group 3 DM. RESULTS: TIMI frame counts for each of three coronary arteries were found to be significantly different among groups using ANOVA testing (corrected TIMI frame counts for left anterior descending artery and TIMI frame counts for left circumflex and right coronary arteries, respectively, in three groups: group 1 20.2±6.8, 18.8±5.4 and 19.9±8.7; group 2 22.2±8.0, 20.8±7.9 and 22.2±8.8; group 3 22.3±9.2, 21.6±10.2 and 22.3±10.6; P<0.01 for each coronary artery). When the groups were compared with one another using post hoc tests, group 2 and group 3 had similar TIMI frame counts for all three coronary arteries, but both of these groups had significantly higher TIMI frame counts than group 1 (P for each comparison was <0.017). CONCLUSIONS: The present study has, for the first time, shown that coronary flow measured by TIMI frame count is slower in prediabetic patients than in nondiabetic patients, and is similar to coronary flow in diabetic patients. This result provides supportive evidence that endothelial dysfunction develops in the prediabetic phase before overt DM manifests. PMID:23592933
Percutaneous coronary intervention in treatment of multivessel coronary artery disease in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.
Gąsior, Paweł; Desperak, Piotr; Gierlaszyńska, Karolina; Hawranek, Michał; Gierlotka, Marek; Gąsior, Mariusz; Poloński, Lech
Among patients with non-ST-elevated acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) the estimated percentage of single vessel coronary artery disease (SV-CAD) observed during coronarography is about 20-40%, while multivessel coronary artery disease (MV-CAD) is found in about 40-60%. Further treatment in patients with both SV CAD and MV CAD is usually culprit vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (CV-PCI). Nevertheless, in the group of patients with MV-CAD there is still a problematic decision whether the non-infarct related arteries (non-IRA) should be treated with PCI. According to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on myocardial revascularization this decision should be based on the overall clinical and angiographic status of the patient; simultaneously they suggest performing ad hoc CV-PCI. The decision of performing intervention in the rest of the narrowed coronary arteries should be made after consultation with the heart team or according to the protocols adopted in the specific clinic. Furthermore, there is a question of whether the procedure should be performed immediately after culprit vessel revascularization or it should be postponed until the patient is stabilized. Due to the lack of specific recommendations we decided to perform an analysis of existing studies which compared culprit versus multivessel revascularization in patients with MV-CAD and non-ST-elevated acute coronary syndromes. PMID:24570706
[Epidemiology of acute coronary syndrome in Campania].
Gregorio, Giovanni; Citro, Rodolfo; Chieffo, Carmine; Corsini, Fabrizio; Riccio, Carmine; Iacomino, Maria; Serafino, Maria
Recent observational studies have pointed out many problems regarding the pre-hospital and in-hospital management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study analyses the epidemiology of ACS in Campania Region. It has enrolled the 92.3% of coronary care units (CCU) of the Campania. The results indicate that 77% of patients admitted in CCU have ACS and the time of admission in CCU is still too long. Moreover the vast majority of patients arrive at the hospital without emergency ambulance and 48% of patients admitted in CCU for ACS with elevated ST segment do not receive any reperfusion therapy; compared with the 35.1% of patients included in the BLITZ study. The challenge of the SSN in the next future is to improve the "decision making" in the management of patients with ACS. This goal could be reached by an optimal organization of the hospital and out-of-hospital emergency services creating an integrated network of cardiological assistance.
"Obesity paradox" in coronary artery disease.
Akin, Ibrahim; Nienaber, Christoph A
Obesity used to be among the more neglected public health problems, but has unfolded as a growing medical and socioeconomic burden of epidemic proportions. Morbid obesity is linked to traditional cardiovascular risk factors like, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes, and suspected to incur increased morbidity and mortality in the Western and even third world populations. This patient cohort is also at greater risk to develop coronary artery disease. Recent population-based registries revealed that 43% and 24% of all cases of coronary revascularization were carried out in overweight and obese patients, respectively. However, despite evidence of a positive correlation between obesity and increased cardiovascular morbidity, some authors have described a better clinical outcome in overweight and obese patients, a phenomenon they coined "obesity paradoxon". Thus, there is an ongoing debate in light of conflicting data and the possibility of confounding bias causing misconception and challenging the "obesity paradox". In this review article we present the current evidence and throughly discuss the validity of the "obesity paradoxon" in a variety of clinical settings.
Quantitative coronary angiography with deformable spline models.
Klein, A K; Lee, F; Amini, A A
Although current edge-following schemes can be very efficient in determining coronary boundaries, they may fail when the feature to be followed is disconnected (and the scheme is unable to bridge the discontinuity) or branch points exist where the best path to follow is indeterminate. In this paper, we present new deformable spline algorithms for determining vessel boundaries, and enhancing their centerline features. A bank of even and odd S-Gabor filter pairs of different orientations are convolved with vascular images in order to create an external snake energy field. Each filter pair will give maximum response to the segment of vessel having the same orientation as the filters. The resulting responses across filters of different orientations are combined to create an external energy field for snake optimization. Vessels are represented by B-Spline snakes, and are optimized on filter outputs with dynamic programming. The points of minimal constriction and the percent-diameter stenosis are determined from a computed vessel centerline. The system has been statistically validated using fixed stenosis and flexible-tube phantoms. It has also been validated on 20 coronary lesions with two independent operators, and has been tested for interoperator and intraoperator variability and reproducibility. The system has been found to be specially robust in complex images involving vessel branchings and incomplete contrast filling.
Fruits, vegetables and coronary heart disease.
Dauchet, Luc; Amouyel, Philippe; Dallongeville, Jean
Diet plays an important part in the maintenance of optimal cardiovascular health. This Review summarizes the evidence for a relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and the occurrence of coronary heart disease. This evidence is based on observational cohort studies, nutrition prevention trials with fruit and vegetables, and investigations of the effects of fruit and vegetables on cardiovascular risk factors. Most of the evidence supporting a cardioprotective effect comes from observational epidemiological studies; these studies have reported either weak or nonsignificant associations. Controlled nutritional prevention trials are scarce and the existing data do not show any clear protective effects of fruit and vegetables on coronary heart disease. Under rigorously controlled experimental conditions, fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a decrease in blood pressure, which is an important cardiovascular risk factor. However, the effects of fruit and vegetable consumption on plasma lipid levels, diabetes, and body weight have not yet been thoroughly explored. Finally, the hypothesis that nutrients in fruit and vegetables have a protective role in reducing the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and preventing complications of atherosclerosis has not been tested in prevention trials. Evidence that fruit and vegetable consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease remains scarce thus far.
Coronary Artery Calcium Score: A Review
Arjmand Shabestari, Abbas
Context Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the foremost cause of death in many countries and hence, its early diagnosis is usually concerned as a major healthcare priority. Coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS) using either electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) or multislice computed tomography (MSCT) has been applied for more than 20 years to provide an early CAD diagnosis in clinical routine practice. Moreover, its association with other body organs has been a matter of vast research. Evidence Acquisition In this review article, techniques of CACS using EBCT and MSCT scanners as well as clinical and research indications of CACS are searched from PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar and Scopus databases in a time period between late 1970s through July 2013 and following appropriate selection, dealt with. Moreover, the previous and ongoing research subjects and their results are discussed. Results The CACS is vastly applied in early detection of CAD and in many other research fields. Conclusions CACS has remarkably changed the screening techniques to detect CAD earlier than before and is generally accepted as a standard of reference for determination of risk of further cardiac events. PMID:24693399
Coronary artery calcification in renal transplant recipients.
Rosas, Sylvia E; Mensah, Korlei; Weinstein, Rachel B; Bellamy, Scarlett L; Rader, Daniel J
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in renal transplant recipients. Although renal transplant recipients frequently undergo cardiac functional tests prior to surgery, coronary atherosclerosis can remain undetected. Coronary artery calcification (CAC), an early marker of atherosclerosis can be quantified using EBCT. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent and characteristics of CAC at the time of renal transplantation. We evaluated 79 consecutive incident asymptomatic renal transplant recipients. Patients were mostly White (62%), male (54%) and had a deceased donor renal transplant (61%). The mean age was 47 (12.1) years. Sixty-five percentage of subjects had CAC. The mean CAC score was 331.5 (562.4) with a median of 43.3. Older age, presence of diabetes, not having a preemptive transplant, deceased donor transplantation and hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with presence of CAC univariately. Median CAC scores were significantly increased in subjects with diabetes (127.8 vs. 28.9, p=0.05), exposed to dialysis (102.9 vs. 3.7, p<0.001) and deceased donor recipients (169.7 vs. 7.5, p=0.02). Using multiple logistic regression, age and time on dialysis were significantly associated with the presence of CAC at the time of transplant. In summary, CAC is prevalent in patients undergoing kidney transplant. CAC may be a method to identify renal transplant recipients at increased risk for future cardiovascular events. PMID:15996243
Chest pain: coronary CT in the ER.
Maffei, Erica; Seitun, Sara; Guaricci, Andrea I; Cademartiri, Filippo
Cardiac CT has developed into a robust clinical tool during the past 15 years. Of the fields in which the potential of cardiac CT has raised more interest is chest pain in acute settings. In fact, the possibility to exclude with high reliability obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients at low-to-intermediate risk is of great interest both from the clinical standpoint and from the management standpoint. Several other modalities, with or without imaging, have been used during the past decades in the settings of new onset chest pain or in acute chest pain for both diagnostic and prognostic assessment of CAD. Each one has advantages and disadvantages. Most imaging modalities also focus on inducible ischaemia to guide referral to invasive coronary angiography. The advent of cardiac CT has introduced a new practice diagnostic paradigm, being the most accurate non-invasive method for identification and exclusion of CAD. Furthermore, the detection of subclinical CAD and plaque imaging offer the opportunity to improve risk stratification. Moreover, recent advances of the latest generation CT scanners allow combining both anatomical and functional imaging by stress myocardial perfusion. The role of cardiac CT in acute settings is already important and will become progressively more important in the coming years. PMID:26866681
Cannabinoids and atherosclerotic coronary heart disease.
Singla, Sandeep; Sachdeva, Rajesh; Mehta, Jawahar L
Marijuana is the most abused recreational drug in the United States. Cannabinoids, the active ingredients of marijuana, affect multiple organ systems in the human body. The pharmacologic effects of marijuana, based on stimulation of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, which are widely distributed in the cardiovascular system, have been well described. Activation of these receptors modulates the function of various cellular elements of the vessel wall, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Clinically, there are reports linking marijuana smoking to the precipitation of angina and acute coronary syndromes. Recently, large published clinical trials with CB1 antagonist rimonabant did not show any significant benefit of this agent in preventing progression of atherosclerosis. In light of these findings and emerging data on multiple pathways linking cannabinoids to atherosclerosis, we discuss the literature on the role of cannabinoids in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. We also propose a marijuana paradox, which implies that inhalation of marijuana may be linked to precipitation of acute coronary syndromes, but modulation of the endocannabinoid system by a noninhalation route may have a salutary effect on the development of atherosclerosis. PMID:22278660
IVUS coronary volume alignment for distinct phases
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Matsumoto, Monica Mitiko Soares; Lemos, Pedro Alves; Furuie, Sergio Shiguemi
Image-based intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) cardiac phase detection allows coronary volume reconstruction in different phases. Consecutive volumes are not necessarily spatially aligned due to longitudinal movement of the catheter. Besides ordinary pullback velocity, there is a relative longitudinal movement of the heart vessel walls and the transducer, due to myocardial contraction. In this manuscript, we aim to spatially align cardiac phase coronary IVUS volumes. In addition, we want to investigate this non-linear longitudinal catheter movement. With this purpose, we have analyzed 120 simulated IVUS images and 10 real IVUS pullbacks. We implemented the following methodology. Firstly, we built IVUS volume for each distinct phase. Secondly, each IVUS volume was transformed into a parametric signal of average frame intensity. We have used these signals to make correlation in space with a reference one. Then we estimated the spatial distance between the distinct IVUS volumes and the reference. We have tested in simulated images and real examinations. We have also observed similar pattern in real IVUS examinations. This spatial alignment method is feasible and useful as a step towards dynamic studies of IVUS examination.
Hemodynamics in coronary arteries with overlapping stents.
Rikhtegar, Farhad; Wyss, Christophe; Stok, Kathryn S; Poulikakos, Dimos; Müller, Ralph; Kurtcuoglu, Vartan
Coronary artery stenosis is commonly treated by stent placement via percutaneous intervention, at times requiring multiple stents that may overlap. Stent overlap is associated with increased risk of adverse clinical outcome. While changes in local blood flow are suspected to play a role therein, hemodynamics in arteries with overlapping stents remain poorly understood. In this study we analyzed six cases of partially overlapping stents, placed ex vivo in porcine left coronary arteries and compared them to five cases with two non-overlapping stents. The stented vessel geometries were obtained by micro-computed tomography of corrosion casts. Flow and shear stress distribution were calculated using computational fluid dynamics. We observed a significant increase in the relative area exposed to low wall shear stress (WSS<0.5 Pa) in the overlapping stent segments compared both to areas without overlap in the same samples, as well as to non-overlapping stents. We further observed that the configuration of the overlapping stent struts relative to each other influenced the size of the low WSS area: positioning of the struts in the same axial location led to larger areas of low WSS compared to alternating struts. Our results indicate that the overlap geometry is by itself sufficient to cause unfavorable flow conditions that may worsen clinical outcome. While stent overlap cannot always be avoided, improved deployment strategies or stent designs could reduce the low WSS burden.
Coronary artery ectasia and systolic flow cessation in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a case report.
Zografos, Theodoros; Kokladi, Maria; Katritsis, Demosthenes
Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is characterized by diffuse or localized inappropriate dilation of coronary arteries and is often associated with slow coronary blood flow. Although CAE has been described to coexist with several clinical entities there are only three reports of CAE in the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We report a case of CAE and slow coronary flow with systolic flow cessation in a 61-year old male with coronary artery disease and HCM.
[Aftermaths of lesions of coronary arteries in Kawasaki disease].
Vostokova, A A; Grunina, E A; Klemenov, A V
Kawasaki disease, also known as cutaneous-mucous-glandular mucocutaneous glandular syndrome, is acute systemic vasculitis of small-to-medium calibre arteries, frequently involving coronary arteries, affect almost exceptionally children, with reports concerning cases of Kawasaki syndrome in 20-to-30-year-old adults being extremely rare. The most serious manifestation of Kawasaki disease is coronaritis and formation of coronary artery aneurysms. The dynamics of the formed coronary aneurysms and, consequently, the fate of patients may be different. Thrombosis of an aneurysm in the early period of the disease and stenosing of the affected coronary artery later on present possible complications of Kawasaki disease and potential causes of myocardial infection in young adults. Increased risk of coronary artery thromboses in Kawasaki disease is conditioned by a decrease in velocity of blood flow and its turbulent pattern in the aneurysms, endothelial dysfunction due to currently existing or endured coronaritis and thrombocytosis typical of this pathology. Predisposing factors of coronary artery stenosing are unfavourable haemodynamic conditions appearing at the sites of the "entry" and "exit" of the aneurysm. Described herein are two case reports of myocardial infarction, one of which being a complication of an acute case of Kawasaki disease in a 29-year-old patient, with the second one being a consequence of coronary artery stenosing in a 25-year-old patient who had endured Kawasaki disease in his childhood.
Coronary-aortic interaction during ventricular isovolumic contraction.
van Houwelingen, Marc J; Merkus, Daphne; Te Lintel Hekkert, Maaike; van Dijk, Geert; Hoeks, Arnold P G; Duncker, Dirk J
In earlier work, we suggested that the start of the isovolumic contraction period could be detected in arterial pressure waveforms as the start of a temporary pre-systolic pressure perturbation (AIC(start), start of the Arterially detected Isovolumic Contraction), and proposed the retrograde coronary blood volume flow in combination with a backwards traveling pressure wave as its most likely origin. In this study, we tested this hypothesis by means of a coronary artery occlusion protocol. In six Yorkshire × Landrace swine, we simultaneously occluded the left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx) artery for 5 s followed by a 20-s reperfusion period and repeated this sequence at least two more times. A similar procedure was used to occlude only the right coronary artery (RCA) and finally all three main coronary arteries simultaneously. None of the occlusion protocols caused a decrease in the arterial pressure perturbation in the aorta during occlusion (P > 0.20) nor an increase during reactive hyperemia (P > 0.22), despite a higher deceleration of coronary blood volume flow (P = 0.03) or increased coronary conductance (P = 0.04) during hyperemia. These results show that the pre-systolic aortic pressure perturbation does not originate from the coronary arteries. PMID:21487819
Measurement and modeling of coronary blood flow.
Sinclair, Matthew D; Lee, Jack; Cookson, Andrew N; Rivolo, Simone; Hyde, Eoin R; Smith, Nicolas P
Ischemic heart disease that comprises both coronary artery disease and microvascular disease is the single greatest cause of death globally. In this context, enhancing our understanding of the interaction of coronary structure and function is not only fundamental for advancing basic physiology but also crucial for identifying new targets for treating these diseases. A central challenge for understanding coronary blood flow is that coronary structure and function exhibit different behaviors across a range of spatial and temporal scales. While experimental studies have sought to understand this feature by isolating specific mechanisms, in tandem, computational modeling is increasingly also providing a unique framework to integrate mechanistic behaviors across different scales. In addition, clinical methods for assessing coronary disease severity are continuously being informed and updated by findings in basic physiology. Coupling these technologies, computational modeling of the coronary circulation is emerging as a bridge between the experimental and clinical domains, providing a framework to integrate imaging and measurements from multiple sources with mathematical descriptions of governing physical laws. State-of-the-art computational modeling is being used to combine mechanistic models with data to provide new insight into coronary physiology, optimization of medical technologies, and new applications to guide clinical practice. PMID:26123867
[Minimum invasive coronary operations: indications, technique, contra-indications].
Spasov, L
On the basis of the experience with the contemporary coronary chirurgery with classical bypass technology under the conditions of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are specified the complications that occurred in the patient. These complications, generalized as 'postperfusion syndrome' are filled out with common brain complications like embolism, insultus and these in neurokognitive sphere of the brain activity. For decrease the complications by the coronary operations from 1975 are developed new technologies for coronary revascularization under the conditions of 'beating heart' without CPB (off-pump technologies). From 1980 Benetti F. and Buffalo (1981) in Latin America widely use the coronary revascularization of 'beating heart' without CPB (off-pump coronary artery bypass = OPCAB). For the realization of these operations are developed miniinvasive operative technologies through different operative admissions: small anterolateral thoracotomy, dorsolateral thoracotomy, xiphoid transdiaphragmatic, transabdominal etc. A considerable facilitation by OPCAB is achieved with using vacuum or mechanical stabilizers of the cardiac activity. In the course of last decade OPCAB operations are taken with endoscope technics Mack and coll. (1997), Wolf (1998) etc. The technology for decreasing of the operative technology is developed by adopting robot assistance by the coronary bypass operations (RAVECAB) from Boyd and coll. (2001), Kiaii and coll. (2000), Mohr, Falk and Diegeler (1999) etc. The miniinvasive coronary revascularization can be applied by exact draft patients and help for decreasing the postoperative complications and the lethality. PMID:18846697
Atherosclerotic and Non-Atherosclerotic Coronary Heart Disease in Women.
Kolovou, Genovefa; Kolovou, Vana; Koutelou, Maria; Mavrogeni, Sophie
Atherosclerotic Coronary heart disease (CHD) and non-atherosclerotic CHD in individuals less than 50 years of age is considered a "men's case". Undoubtedly, premenopausal women develop atherosclerotic/non-atherosclerotic CHD relatively rarely compared with men. This is attributed mostly to the cardioprotective role of estrogens (mainly estradiol). Nevertheless, there are predisposing conditions, which also make young women vulnerable to develop atherosclerotic/non-atherosclerotic CHD. Women who have classical cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, obesity, and dyslipidaemia, are more likely to develop cardiac events, even at a young age. Moreover, there are also other conditions that cause acute coronary syndromes, even in the absence of coronary atheromatic plaques such as myocardial bridge, coronary artery dissection, coronary artery spasm, coronary artery embolism and congenital anomalies of coronary arteries. Also, autoimmune diseases, some of which are more prevalent in women can cause atherosclerotic/ non-atherosclerotic CHD. In this narrative review we have summarized some of the causes that predispose young women to develop atherosclerotic/non-atherosclerotic CHD. PMID:26337108
Atrophic gastritis is associated with coronary artery disease.
Senmaru, Takafumi; Fukui, Michiaki; Tanaka, Muhei; Kuroda, Masaaki; Yamazaki, Masahiro; Oda, Yohei; Naito, Yuji; Hasegawa, Goji; Toda, Hitoshi; Yoshikawa, Toshikazu; Nakamura, Naoto
Atrophic gastritis is characterized by chronic inflammation of gastric mucosa by Helicobacter pylori infection and other factors. Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked to coronary artery disease. To our knowledge, however, no reports are available on the relationship between atrophic gastritis and coronary artery disease. In this study, we investigated the relationship between atrophic gastritis, which is diagnosed based on serum pepsinogen levels (pepsinogen I ≤ 70 ng/mL and pepsinogen I/II ratio ≤ 3.0), and the prevalence of coronary artery disease in general Japanese population. Among 2,633 study subjects, 531 subjects (20.2%) were diagnosed as atrophic gastritis. The prevalence of coronary artery disease was higher in the atrophic gastritis-positive group than that in the atrophic gastritis-negative group (5.8% vs 2.8%, p = 0.0005). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that atrophic gastritis was independently associated with coronary artery disease (odds ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.72), after adjustment for age, sex, obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and habits of smoking and drinking. These results suggest that atrophic gastritis is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. Chronic inflammation of gastric mucosa may be associated with the prevalence of coronary artery disease.
Associations between pentraxin 3 and severity of coronary artery disease
Liu, Hua; Guan, Shaofeng; Fang, Weiyi; Yuan, Fang; Zhang, Min; Qu, Xinkai
Objective To investigate the associations between plasma levels of pentraxins 3 (PTX3) and C reactive protein (CRP) and the severity of coronary artery lesions. Design and methods 60 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) in our hospital were included. Plasma was collected during CAG. The coronary Gensini score was used to evaluate the severity of coronary artery lesions. Associations between Gensini scores and plasma levels of PTX3 and CRP were analysed. Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 were included in the chronic renal dysfunction subgroup. Results A linear correlation was observed between PTX3 and the Gensini score (r=0.513, p<0.001). One-way analysis of variance showed that PTX3 levels were significantly higher in patients with Gensini scores >90 compared with patients with scores of 46–90 or <45 (0–45:4.8±0.8, 46–90:6.7±1.2, >90:7.7±2.0, p<0.001). Stepwise multiple linear regression showed that PTX3 levels were significantly associated with Gensini score in patients with chronic renal dysfunction (p=0.012), while no significant association was found for CRP. Conclusions PTX3 levers were positively associated with the severity of coronary artery lesions. PTX3 is closely associated with the severity of coronary artery stenosis in patients with chronic renal dysfunction. PMID:25854969
[Physiology of coronary circulation and angioplasty: utopia or clinical reality?].
Dupouy, P; Teiger, E; Garot, P; Pelle, G; Aptecar, E; Belardi, A; el Amine, S; Pernès, J M; Dubois-Randé, J L
Small pressure transducer and Doppler quartz placed at the tip of angioplasty guide wire give the opportunity to measure coronary flow physiology parameters, the physiopathologic impact of an epicardic coronary stenosis and the efficacy of its treatment. This gives the opportunity to over ride the coronary imaging limitations. Doppler and pressure investigate a different and complementary aspect of the pressure-flow relation and may be used together in some special cases. Myocardial fractional flow reserve (FFRmyo) and relative coronary reserve concepts allow to evaluate patients with heterogeneous coronary reserve. Clinical application field is very broad and can be applied to each step of coronary angioplasty from the evaluation of intermediate lesions and the indication of angioplasty to the guidance of the procedure to the evaluation of the result, through the stenting indication and the stent placement optimization. Numerous studies has emphasized the role of physiologic coronary assessment in the cathlab. The time and economic gain of such an attitude has to be confirmed by future trials but it is clear now that it is not possible to continue to take decision on the sol visual aspect of a lesion.
Multislice computer tomography for detection of coronary artery disease.
Ropers, Dieter
Multislice computer tomography has undergone substantial technological progress during the past years. Current 64-slice scanners with gantry rotation speeds of as little as 330 ms, and particularly the recently introduced dual source CT equipped with two X-ray tubes, provide a temporal and spatial resolution that is sufficient to allow reliable imaging of cardiac morphology and coronary arteries. Especially the ability to noninvasively visualize the coronary arteries, including the assessment and quantification of calcifications, as well as the detection of luminal obstruction and atherosclerotic plaque, constitutes an attractive addition to currently available diagnostic tools for the work-up of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Besides the evaluation of coronary artery calcium and atherosclerotic plaques, this review focuses on the contrast-enhanced CT visualization of the coronary vessels, including native coronary arteries, bypass grafts, and coronary stonts. Thereby detailed information concerning the scan protocol, clinical data, possible indications, and limitations using up-to-date 64-slice technology is provided. Finally, the overview includes design and initial image examples of dual source CT technology as the newest development in the field.
Transcatheter coil embolization of multiple bilateral congenital coronary artery fistulae.
Iglesias, Juan F; Thai, Hoa Tran; Kabir, Tito; Roguelov, Christan; Eeckhout, Eric
Coronary artery fistulae represent the most frequent congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, but remain a relatively uncommon clinical problem. Moreover, multiple fistulae originating from both the left and the right coronary arteries and draining into the left ventricular chamber are a rare condition. Due to the low prevalence of these anomalies, the appropriate management of patients with symptomatic coronary artery fistulae is controversial. Transcatheter closure approaches have emerged as a less invasive strategy and are nowadays considered a valuable alternative to surgical correction with similar effectiveness, morbidity and mortality. The percutaneous management, however, is mainly limited by the individual anatomic features of the fistula and an appropriate patient's selection is considered as a key determining factor to achieve complete occlusion. Thus, success rates of transcatheter closure techniques reported in the literature are extremely variable and highly dependent upon the nature of the follow up, which, at present, is not standardized. The optimal management of symptomatic patients with multiple coronary artery fistulae still remains a challenging problem and has been traditionally considered as an indication for cardiac surgery. We report here the case of a patient with double bilateral congenital coronary artery fistulae arising from both the left and right coronary arteries and draining individually into the left ventricular chamber. This patient underwent successful transcatheter anterograde closure of both fistulae using a microcoil embolization technique.
[Coronary microvascular dysfunction : Clinical aspects, diagnosis and therapy].
Ong, P; Sechtem, U
Just as in epicardial coronary stenosis, coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) also leads to an imbalance of myocardial oxygen supply and demand. The dysfunction is located at the level of the coronary microcirculation with vessel diameters < 500 µm and structural as well as functional alterations have been described. The underlying mechanisms are diverse, frequently overlap and are still incompletely understood. Among others, conditions such as chronic inflammation, estrogen deficiency and a genetic familial predisposition have been reported. A common and often underdiagnosed clinical manifestation of CMD is found in patients who have symptoms of angina pectoris but no obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease or myocardial disease. The CMD can be diagnosed using non-invasive procedures, such as the combination of coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography and cardiac stress magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or coronary CT and positron emission tomography (PET). In addition, invasive coronary vasomotor assessment is also suitable. Very little evidence is available regarding the effectiveness of pharmacological treatment of CMD. The current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines on the management of stable coronary artery disease from 2013 recommend using acetylsalicylic acid (ASS) and a statin as well as beta blockers and/or calcium channel blockers. Patients with CMD have an elevated risk for coronary events and death of approximately 1.7 % per year. Moreover, there is an increased morbidity with frequent presentations in practices and emergency admissions. Clinical research efforts should aim at a better characterization of the underlying mechanisms of CMD in order to develop targeted treatment approaches. PMID:27255117
Multimodality Imaging in Coronary Artery Disease: Focus on Computed Tomography
Lee, Ji Hyun; Han, Donghee; Danad, Ibrahim; Hartaigh, Bríain ó; Lin, Fay Y.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and various cardiovascular imaging modalities have been introduced for the purpose of diagnosing and determining the severity of CAD. More recently, advances in computed tomography (CT) technology have contributed to the widespread clinical application of cardiac CT for accurate and noninvasive evaluation of CAD. In this review, we focus on imaging assessment of CAD based upon CT, which includes coronary artery calcium screening, coronary CT angiography, myocardial CT perfusion, and fractional flow reserve CT. Further, we provide a discussion regarding the potential implications, benefits and limitations, as well as the possible future directions according to each modality. PMID:27081438
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a patient with dextrocardia.
Khan, Naveed-Ullah; Farman, Muhammad Tariq; Ashraf, Tariq
The case of a 40-year-old male with dextrocardia who presented with ST Elevated Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) is reported. Coronary angiogram was performed after due manipulation and then successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of Left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was done. His 9 months follow up primary PCI in a patient with angiogram revealed patent stent in proximal LAD. There are very few published case reports of this rare congenital anomaly addressing technical details of successful primary PCI with dextrocardia.
Advances in nanotechnology for the management of coronary artery disease.
Rhee, June-Wha; Wu, Joseph C
Nanotechnology holds tremendous potential to advance the current treatment of coronary artery disease. Nanotechnology may assist medical therapies by providing a safe and efficacious delivery platform for a variety of drugs aimed at modulating lipid disorders, decreasing inflammation and angiogenesis within atherosclerotic plaques, and preventing plaque thrombosis. Nanotechnology may improve coronary stent applications by promoting endothelial recovery on a stent surface utilizing bio-mimetic nanofibrous scaffolds, and also by preventing in-stent restenosis using nanoparticle-based delivery of drugs that are decoupled from stents. Additionally, nanotechnology may enhance tissue-engineered graft materials for application in coronary artery bypass grafting by facilitating cellular infiltration and remodeling of a graft matrix.
An Update on Gender Disparities in Coronary Heart Disease Care.
Shah, Tina; Palaskas, Nicolas; Ahmed, Ameera
Coronary heart disease (CHD), traditionally considered a male disease, causes far more deaths in women than cancer. The prevalence of CHD is lower in women at any age, but with advancing age, this differential decreases. The clinical outcomes including myocardial infarction mortality, all-cause mortality, and reinfarction rates are also worse in women with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than in men. Yet, women appear to be underdiagnosed and undertreated for coronary heart disease. There is still a gap in the knowledge, understanding, and general awareness of CHD in women. This review provides updates in gender disparities in the management of risk factors, treatments, and outcomes of coronary heart disease.
Harmonic Skeleton Guided Evaluation of Stenoses in Human Coronary Arteries
Yang, Yan; Zhu, Lei; Haker, Steven; Tannenbaum, Allen R.; Giddens, Don P.
This paper presents a novel approach that three-dimensionally visualizes and evaluates stenoses in human coronary arteries by using harmonic skeletons. A harmonic skeleton is the center line of a multi-branched tubular surface extracted based on a harmonic function, which is the solution of the Laplace equation. This skeletonization method guarantees smoothness and connectivity and provides a fast and straightforward way to calculate local cross-sectional areas of the arteries, and thus provides the possibility to localize and evaluate coronary artery stenosis, which is a commonly seen pathology in coronary artery disease. PMID:16685882
Harmonic skeleton guided evaluation of stenoses in human coronary arteries.
Yang, Yan; Zhu, Lei; Haker, Steven; Tannenbaum, Allen R; Giddens, Don P
This paper presents a novel approach that three-dimensionally visualizes and evaluates stenoses in human coronary arteries by using harmonic skeletons. A harmonic skeleton is the center line of a multi-branched tubular surface extracted based on a harmonic function, which is the solution of the Laplace equation. This skeletonization method guarantees smoothness and connectivity and provides a fast and straightforward way to calculate local cross-sectional areas of the arteries, and thus provides the possibility to localize and evaluate coronary artery stenosis, which is a commonly seen pathology in coronary artery disease. PMID:16685882
Detection of viable myocardium using coronary angiography and ventriculography.
Conti, C Richard
In 2002, coronary angiography is the only way to assess precisely the combination of proximal stenoses, distal target vessels, collaterals, microcirculation, and TIMI antegrade flow. At the time of coronary angiography, global LV function is best determined using biplane ventriculography in order to correlate wall motion with coronary stenoses, distal target vessels, microcirculation, collaterals, and antegrade TIMI flow. This can be done under resting conditions after nitrates or after postextrasystolic potentiation. The absolute diagnosis of viability can only be made retrospectively. Large areas of ischemic viable myocardium should improve contraction after revascularization, decrease symptoms, and prolong survival.
[Regression of coronary arteriosclerosis with hypolipidemic treatment, myth or reality?].
Lahoz, C; Monereo, A; Mostaza, J M; de Oya, M
Coronary atherosclerosis regression with hypolipemiant treatment is a well known fact in the animal model since years ago. In humans, during these last years, several clinical trials have been performed to ellucidate the truth to this fact. All of these clinical trials have in common the evolutive study of the coronary lesions with angiographies, in patients following treatment with diet, surgery or drugs, to reduce plasmatic cholesterol. Clinical, analytical and angiographic results of said studies are reviewed. We conclude that the bigger the lowering in plasmatic cholesterol levels, smaller is the progression of these coronary lesions and more probable is finding patients with partial regression of the lesions.
Angioscopy by a new percutaneous transluminal coronary angioscope
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Sakurada, Masami; Mizuno, Kyoichi; Miyamoto, Akira; Arakawa, Koh; Satomura, Kimio; Shibuya, Toshio; Yanagida, Shigeki; Okamoto, Yasuyuki; Kurita, Akira; Nakamura, Haruo; Arai, Tsunenori; Suda, Akira; Kikuchi, Makoto; Utsumi, Atsushi; Takeuchi, Kiyoshi; Akai, Yoshiro
We developed a new percutaneous transluminal coronary angioscopic catheter for visualization of coronary artery.This angioscopic catheter has an inflatable balloon at the distal tip and one - directional angulation mechanism.We performed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioscopy during cardiac catheterization cosecutively in 155 patients. With this angioscope , we could get good'-'fair visualization in 81%(131 of 162 lesions)without major complications.We could investigate the endothelial macropathology of ischemic heart disease such as unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction.
Surgical Repair of an Asymptomatic Giant Right Coronary Artery Aneurysm
Jahangeer, Saleem; Anjum, Nadeem; O'Donnell, Aonghus; Doddakula, Kishore
Background Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is a rare finding, being mostly diagnosed on angiography or at autopsies. It is defined as being a dilation of the coronary artery that exceeds the diameter of the patient's largest coronary vessel by 1.5 to 2 times. Case Report We describe the operative correction of a giant right CAA measuring in excess of 10 cm. Conclusion Management of giant CAAs is not standardized and surgical strategy remains controversial. In our case, the patient has a successful surgical repair with no postoperative shunts on follow-up investigations. PMID:25360401
Progression of coronary artery calcification at the crossroads: sign of progression or stabilization of coronary atherosclerosis?
Carrascosa, Patricia; Bruining, Nico
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) has been strongly established as an independent predictor of adverse events, with a significant incremental prognostic value over traditional risk stratification algorithms. CAC progression has been associated with a higher rate of events. In parallel, several randomized studies and meta-analysis have shown the effectiveness of statins to slow progression and even promote plaque regression. However, evidence regarding the effect of routine medical therapy on CAC has yielded conflicting results, with initial studies showing significant CAC regression, and contemporaneous data showing rather the opposite. Accordingly, there is currently a great controversy on whether progression of CAC is a sign of progression or stabilization of coronary artery disease (CAD). The finding of inexorable CAC progression despite the implementation of intensive contemporaneous medical therapy suggests that further understanding of this phenomenon should be undertaken before the implementation of CAC as a surrogate endpoint for longitudinal studies, or for prospective follow-up of patients under routine medical treatment. PMID:27280088
Update: Acute coronary syndromes (IX). Secondary prevention strategies for acute coronary syndrome.
Quiles, Juan; Miralles-Vicedo, Beatriz
Cardiovascular disease is the main health problem in Europe and the rest of the world and is the leading cause of death and health care expenditure. By reducing mortality and ischemic event recurrence, prevention strategies play a fundamental role in patients who have had an acute coronary syndrome. Although these prevention strategies have focused with great success on high-risk individuals, they should also be used in the general population, which is showing an increase in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and other comorbidities that may reverse this trend toward reduced mortality. The present article consists of an up-to-date review of the main cardiovascular prevention measures, particularly the new developments of the last year, as well as the particularities of these measures when they are targeted at patients with a prior acute coronary syndrome.
Development of new risk score for pre-test probability of obstructive coronary artery disease based on coronary CT angiography.
Fujimoto, Shinichiro; Kondo, Takeshi; Yamamoto, Hideya; Yokoyama, Naoyuki; Tarutani, Yasuhiro; Takamura, Kazuhisa; Urabe, Yoji; Konno, Kumiko; Nishizaki, Yuji; Shinozaki, Tomohiro; Kihara, Yasuki; Daida, Hiroyuki; Isshiki, Takaaki; Takase, Shinichi
Existing methods to calculate pre-test probability of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) have been established using selected high-risk patients who were referred to conventional coronary angiography. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate our new method for pre-test probability of obstructive CAD using patients who underwent coronary CT angiography (CTA), which could be applicable to a wider range of patient population. Using consecutive 4137 patients with suspected CAD who underwent coronary CTA at our institution, a multivariate logistic regression model including clinical factors as covariates calculated the pre-test probability (K-score) of obstructive CAD determined by coronary CTA. The K-score was compared with the Duke clinical score using the area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver-operating characteristic curve. External validation was performed by an independent sample of 319 patients. The final model included eight significant predictors: age, gender, coronary risk factor (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking), history of cerebral infarction, and chest symptom. The AUC of the K-score was significantly greater than that of the Duke clinical score for both derivation (0.736 vs. 0.699) and validation (0.714 vs. 0.688) data sets. Among patients who underwent coronary CTA, newly developed K-score had better pre-test prediction ability of obstructive CAD compared to Duke clinical score in Japanese population.
Value of segmental coronary calcium score on diagnosis and interventional treatment of coronary lesions by 320-slice DVCT
Li, Xiao-Yan; Zhang, Guo-Ming; Zhang, Hong-Ming; Sun, Gang; Han, Shu-Fang; Tan, Hong; Gao, Yu-Qi; Jin, Qun; Li, Yan-Min; Fang, Jie
The global coronary calcium score has been widely used in the evaluation of coronary plaque burden and cardiovascular disease events. In this study, we investigated the value of segmental coronary calcium score (SCCS) on the diagnosis and interventional treatment. We studied 87 patients with coronary angiography (CAG) and coronary CT angiography (CTA) by 320-slice dynamic volume CT (DVCT). SCCS was determined for each segmental separately. All lesions which SCCS was greater than 0 were enrolled, and were divided into three groups, mild calcification group (SCCS were less than 80), Moderate calcification group (SCCS were more than 80 and less than 200) and Severe calcification group (SCCS were more than 200). From above three groups, lesions received the intervention treatment were elected as subgroup. The position of lesions, plaque morphology, calcification proportion and interventional treatment data were analyzed. Severe calcification group were more frequent in the proximal lesions, stenosis with lesser extent, nubbly and nodular types of plaque, and the inconsistency with CAG was higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05). In the subgroup, more pre-dilatation and post-dilatation balloon were used in severe calcification group, with higher expansion pressure of balloon and stent (P < 0.05), but the diameter of stents was no difference between the three groups. Conclusion: SCCS is better than GCCS in the evaluation of coronary calcification, and play an important role in the judgment of stenosis by coronary CT and in the choice of interventional therapeutic devices. PMID:25232412
The challenge of coronary calcium on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) scans: effect on interpretation and possible solutions.
Andrew, Makmur; John, Hoe
Coronary calcium seen on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) scans is a common diagnostic challenge which can make interpretation difficult. It is the most common cause of false positive (FP) results from CCTA compared with invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and affects the positive predictive results. At the same time, coronary calcium can result in false negative (FN) results, and this again can affect the reported diagnostic accuracy of CCTA, as the high negative predictive value of CCTA compared to ICA is one of its strengths. This paper reviews the reasons that coronary calcium can cause FP and FN results, and the effects of the morphologies and sizes of the calcified plaques, with particular regard to their relationship with the visualization of the contrast-filled lumen of the coronary artery. Some possible solutions to overcome the limitations of reading CCTA scans with calcified plaques also are discussed, with a view to improving the accuracy of interpreting and reporting CCTA scans; these solutions include using the degree of residual visible contrast-filled lumen to help assess the likelihood of significant associated coronary stenosis, and applying newer technical developments such as dual-energy imaging and volume calcium subtraction.
Long-term incidence and prognostic factors of the progression of new coronary lesions in Japanese coronary artery disease patients after percutaneous coronary intervention.
Kaneko, Hidehiro; Yajima, Junji; Oikawa, Yuji; Tanaka, Shingo; Fukamachi, Daisuke; Suzuki, Shinya; Sagara, Koichi; Otsuka, Takayuki; Matsuno, Shunsuke; Kano, Hiroto; Uejima, Tokuhisa; Koike, Akira; Nagashima, Kazuyuki; Kirigaya, Hajime; Sawada, Hitoshi; Aizawa, Tadanori; Yamashita, Takeshi
Revascularization of an initially non-target site due to its progression as a new culprit lesion has emerged as a new therapeutic target of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the era of drug-eluting stents. Using the Shinken database, a single-hospital-based cohort, we aimed to clarify the incidence and prognostic factors for progression of previously non-significant coronary portions after prior percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Japanese CAD patients. We selected from the Shinken database a single-hospital-based cohort of Japanese patients (n = 15227) who visited the Cardiovascular Institute between 2004 and 2010 to undergo PCI. This study included 1,214 patients (median follow-up period, 1,032 ± 704 days). Additional clinically driven PCI to treat previously non-significant lesions was performed in 152 patients. The cumulative rate of new-lesion PCI was 9.5 % at 1 year, 14.4 % at 3 years, and 17.6 % at 5 years. There was no difference in background clinical characteristics between patients with and without additional PCI. Prevalence of multi-vessel disease (MVD) (82 vs. 57 %, p < 0.001) and obesity (47 vs. 38 %, p = 0.028) were significantly higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) level (51 ± 15 vs. 47 ± 12 mg/dl, p < 0.001) was significantly lower in patients with additional PCI than those without. Patients using insulin (6 vs. 3 %, p = 0.035) were more common in patients with additional PCI. Multivariate analysis showed that MVD, lower HDL, and insulin use were independent determinants of progression of new culprit coronary lesions. In conclusion, progression of new coronary lesions was common and new-lesion PCI continued to occur beyond 1 year after PCI without attenuation of their annual incidences up to 5 years. Greater coronary artery disease burden, low HDL, and insulin-dependent DM were independent predictors of progression of new culprit coronary lesions.
Dual-Axis Rotational Coronary Angiography: A New Technique for Detecting Graft Coronary Vasculopathy in Pediatric Heart Transplant Recipients
Gudausky, Todd M.; Pelech, Andrew N.; Stendahl, Gail; Tillman, Kathryn; Mattice, Judy; Berger, Stuart; Zangwill, Steven
Annual surveillance coronary angiograpyhy to screen for graft coronary vasculopathy is routine practice after orthotopic heart transplantation. Traditionally, this is performed with direct coronary angiography using static single-plane or biplane angiography. Recently, technological advances have made it possible to perform dual-axis rotational coronary angiography (RA). This technique differs from standard static single-plane or biplane angiography in that a single detector is preprogrammed to swing through a complex 80° arc during a single injection. It has the advantage of providing a perspective of the vessels from a full arc of images rather than from one or two static images per contrast injection. The current study evaluated two coronary angiography techniques used consecutively at a single center to evaluate pediatric heart transplant recipients for graft coronary vasculopathy. A total of 23 patients underwent routine coronary angiography using both biplane static coronary angiography (BiP) and RA techniques at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin from February 2009 to September 2010. Demographic and procedure data were collected from each procedure and analyzed for significance utilizing a Wilcoxon rank sum test. No significant demographic or procedural differences between the BiP and the RA procedures were noted. Specific measures of radiation dose including fluoroscopy time and dose area product were similar among the imaging techniques. The findings show that RA can be performed safely and reproducibly in pediatric heart transplant recipients. Compared with standard BiP, RA does not increase radiation exposure or contrast use and in our experience has provided superior angiographic imaging for the evaluation of graft coronary vasculopathy. PMID:22956061
Emergency surgical revascularisation for coronary angioplasty complications.
Carey, J A; Davies, S W; Balcon, R; Layton, C; Magee, P; Rothman, M T; Timmis, A D; Wright, J E; Walesby, R K
OBJECTIVES--To evaluate trends in referrals for emergency operations after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) complications; to analyse morbidity and mortality and assess the influence of PTCA backup on elective surgery. DESIGN--A retrospective analysis of patients requiring emergency surgical revascularisation within 24 hours of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. PATIENTS--Between January 1980 and December 1990, 75 patients requiring emergency surgery within 24 hours of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. SETTING--A tertiary referral centre and postgraduate teaching hospital. RESULTS--57 patients (76%) were men, the mean age was 55 (range 29-73) years, and 30 (40%) had had a previous myocardial infarction. Before PTCA, 68 (91%) had severe angina, 59 (79%) had multivessel disease, and six (8%) had a left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40%. A mean of 2.1 grafts (range one to five) were performed; the internal mammary artery was used in only one patient. The operative mortality was 9% and inhospital mortality was 17%. There was a need for cardiac massage until bypass was established in 19 patients (25%): this was the most important outcome determinant (P = 0.0051) and was more common in those patients with multivessel disease (P = 0.0449) and in women (P = 0.0388). In 10 of the 19 cases a vacant operating theatre was unavailable, the operation being performed in the catheter laboratory or anaesthetic room. These 19 patients had an operative mortality of 32% and inhospital mortality of 47%, compared with 2% and 7% respectively for the 56 patients who awaited the next available operating theatre. Complications included myocardial infarction, 19 patients (25%); arrhythmias, 10 patients (3%); and gross neurological event, two patients (3%). The mean intensive care unit stay was 2.6 days (range 1 to 33 days) and the mean duration of hospital admission was 13 days (range 5-40 days). CONCLUSIONS--Patients undergoing
Contrast agent choice for intravenous coronary angiography
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Zeman, H. D.; Siddons, D. P.
The screening of the general population for coronary artery disease would be practical if a method existed for visualizing the extent of occlusion after an intravenous injection of contrast agent. Measurements performed with monochromatic synchrotron radiation X-rays and an iodine-containing contrast agent at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory have shown that such an intravenous angiography procedure would be possible with an adequately intense monochromatic X-ray source. Because of the size and cost of synchrotron radiation facilities it would be desirable to make the most efficient use of the intensity available, while reducing as much as possible the radiation dose experienced by the patient. By choosing contrast agents containing elements with a higher atomic number than iodine, it is possible to both improve the image quality and reduce the patient radiation dose, while using the same synchrotron radiation source. By using Si monochromator crystals with a small mosaic spread, it is possible to increase the X-ray flux available for imaging by over an order of magnitude, without any changes in the storage ring or wiggler magnet. The most critical imaging task for intravenous coronary angiography utilizing synchrotron radiation X-rays is visualizing a coronary artery through the left ventricle or aorta which also contain contrast agent. Calculations have been made of the signal to noise ratio expected for this imaging task for various contrast agents with atomic numbers between that of iodine and bismuth. The X-ray energy spectrum of the X-17 superconduction wiggler beam line at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory has been used for these calculations. Both perfect Si crystals and Si crystals with a small mosaic spread are considered as monochromators. Contrast agents containing Gd or Yb seem to have about the optimal calculated signal to noise ratio. Gd-DTPA is already approved for use as a contrast agent for
Determinants of hemorrhagic infarcts. Histologic observations from experiments involving coronary occlusion, coronary reperfusion, and reocclusion.
Garcia-Dorado, D.; Théroux, P.; Solares, J.; Alonso, J.; Fernandez-Avilés, F.; Elizaga, J.; Soriano, J.; Botas, J.; Munoz, R.
Quantification of intramyocardial hemorrhage was performed in 69 pigs submitted to various protocols of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion. The study groups include 1) permanent occlusion; 2) reperfusion after periods of coronary occlusion of 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes; 3) reperfusion with diltiazem and with 4) methoxamine after a 60-minute occlusion period; and 5) permanent reocclusion after a 30-minute period of reperfusion. Red blood cell counts were directly assessed by visual examination of histologic slices of myocardium and in a subgroup of animals by counts of red blood cells labeled with 99m-technetium pertechnetate. Hemorrhage occurs in infarcts reperfused after a duration of 45 minutes or more of coronary occlusion and after a period of reperfusion maintained for at least 30 minutes. Red blood cell counts were maximal in the mid portions of transmural sections of the infarcts, with decreasing values toward epicardium and endocardium. Diltiazem decreased total red blood cell counts, whereas methoxamine increased it and also caused subendocardial hemorrhage. The most powerful predictors of the severity of hemorrhage after sustained reperfusion were infarct size and higher blood pressure. Images Figure 3 Figure 3 PMID:2386198
Unprotected left main percutaneous coronary intervention in acute coronary syndromes with extracorporeal life support backup.
Staudacher, Dawid L; Langner, Oliver; Biever, Paul; Benk, Christoph; Zehender, Manfred; Bode, Christoph; Wengenmayer, Tobias
Background. Left main PCI is superior to coronary bypass surgery in selected patients. Registry data, however, suggest significant early adverse event rates associated with unprotected left main PCI. We aimed to evaluate safety of an extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as backup system during PCI. Methods. We report a registry study of 16 high-risk patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes undergoing unprotected left main PCI with an ECLS backup. Results. Seven patients (43.8%) presented with an acute myocardial infarction while 9 patients (56.3%) had unstable angina. Unprotected left main PCI could be successfully performed in all 16 patients. Mortality or thromboembolic event rates were zero within the index hospital stay. General anesthesia was necessary only in 5 patients (31.3%). Access site bleeding requiring transfusion was encountered in 4 patients (25.0%). Three patients (18.8%) developed access site complications requiring surgical intervention. All patients were ECLS-free after 96 hours. Conclusions. Unprotected left main PCI could be safely and effectively performed after ECLS implantation as backup in acute coronary syndromes in our patient collectively. Vascular access site complications however need to be considered when applying ECLS as backup system.
Dual antiplatelet therapy in acute coronary syndromes and coronary artery interventions.
Sathyamurthy, I; Jayanthi, K
Optimization of platelet inhibition in patients with acute coronary syndromes reduces the risk for ischemic events, but at the same time increases the risk for bleeding. There are several predictors of bleeding risk in patients with acute coronary syndromes. These include demographic variables such as advanced age, female gender, low body weight, concomitant diseases such as diabetes,renal insufficiency, noncardiac vascular disease such as cerebral vascular disease and a history of bleeding. It also includes the type of acute coronary syndromes such as patients presenting with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, high killip class and low blood pressure. The diabetic population contains a higher proportion of patients who do not respond to antiplatelet drugs as expected and who also have more activated platelets that deserve very vigorous inhibition. The importance of dual antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing balloon angioplasty and stenting is much discussed. Yet there are some questions which are to be answered clearly such as the following:- 1) In the need to balance the benefit of clot prevention with bleeding risk, is it better to continue dual antiplatelet therapy for longer than one year? 2) If so, is this benefit specific to drug eluting stents or to a more general population of stent patients? 3) Is the benefit mediated by prevention of stent thrombosis or is there a global reduction in cardiovascular risk? This review is to understand all these aspects and help a physician use antiplatelet drugs appropriately in day to day clinical practice for better patient outcomes. PMID:25672032
Pharmacokinetic analysis of coronary venous retroinfusion: a comparison with anterograde coronary artery drug administration using metoprolol as a tracer.
Rydén, L; Tadokoro, H; Sjöquist, P O; Regardh, C; Kobayashi, S; Corday, E; Drury, J K
Plasma and myocardial tissue concentrations of metoprolol were studied in ischemic and nonischemic areas of 22 pigs after 90 (n = 19) and 16 (n = 3) min of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion. Group A (n = 6) received simultaneous intravenous metoprolol (0.2 mg/kg body weight) and tritium-labeled (3H)-metoprolol (0.2 mg/kg) retrogradely into the coronary vein. In group B (n = 5), metoprolol and 3H-metoprolol were administered in the same way, but at half the volume to study the influence of derived coronary venous pressure on the myocardial concentration of drug. In group C (n = 3), metoprolol was given retrogradely and saline solution was infused into the left anterior descending artery before induced death to wash out metoprolol from the coronary veins. To rule out a possible influence of the development of myocardial necrosis on drug distribution, metoprolol was retroinfused after 1 min of arterial occlusion in three pigs (group D). In group E (n = 5), metoprolol (0.2 mg/kg) was infused anterogradely into the left anterior descending artery. Peak plasma concentration was significantly higher after intravenous infusion of metoprolol (1,188 +/- 503 nmol/liter) than after coronary venous infusion (417 +/- 155 nmol/liter; p less than 0.001). In groups A and B, the nonischemic myocardial concentration of metoprolol was 250 to 300 pmol/g, whether the drug was infused intravenously or into the coronary vein. Coronary venous retroinfusion, however, resulted in a substantial accumulation of metoprolol in the ischemic myocardium. In group A pigs, subendocardial myocardial concentration was 16,800 +/- 7,774, mid-myocardial 39,590 +/- 18,043 and subepicardial 57,143 +/- 29,030 pmol/g (mean +/- SE). The ischemic myocardial concentration in pigs from group B was somewhat less pronounced, probably secondary to a lower coronary venous pressure (15 +/- 3 mm Hg) with the lower volume of infusion (6.1 +/- 0.3 ml) in group B compared with 32 +/- 5 mm Hg with a 14
Rotational ablation of discrete lesions in the coronary arteries is safe. A nonrandomized comparison with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.
Cheirif, J; Wray, R; Heibig, J; Harris, S; Staudacher, R; Bucay, M; Zacca, N
Rotational ablation is receiving increasing attention as a new therapeutic intervention for coronary artery disease. In a nonrandomized study, we compared echocardiographic regional wall-motion scores of patients treated with rotational ablation with those of patients treated with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. We found that rotational ablation achieved angiographic results comparable to those of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and was in fact associated with less myocardial ischemia. The reduction in ischemia observed in the ablation group might arise from shorter treatment times in those patients, from the use of nitroglycerin infusion in the ablation group, or from both factors. Images PMID:7580361
Quantitative imaging of coronary blood flow
Alessio, Adam M.; Butterworth, Erik; Caldwell, James H.; Bassingthwaighte, James B.
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging modality based on the administration of a positron-emitting radiotracer, the imaging of the distribution and kinetics of the tracer, and the interpretation of the physiological events and their meaning with respect to health and disease. PET imaging was introduced in the 1970s and numerous advances in radiotracers and detection systems have enabled this modality to address a wide variety of clinical tasks, such as the detection of cancer, staging of Alzheimer's disease, and assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). This review provides a description of the logic and the logistics of the processes required for PET imaging and a discussion of its use in guiding the treatment of CAD. Finally, we outline prospects and limitations of nanoparticles as agents for PET imaging. PMID:22110860
The clinics of acute coronary syndrome
Rastelli, Gianni
Risk stratification and management of patients with chest pain continues to be challenging despite considerable efforts made in the last decades by many clinicians and researchers. The throutful evaluation necessitates that the physicians have a high index of suspicion for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and always keep in mind the myriad of often subtle and atypical presentations of ischemic heart disease, especially in certain patient populations such as the elderly ones. In this article we aim to review and discuss the available evidence on the value of clinical presentation in patients with a suspected ACS, with special emphasis on history, characteristics of chest pain, associated symptoms, atypical presentations, precipitating and relieving factors, drugs, clinical rules and significance of clinical Gestalt. PMID:27294087
Coronary artery disease in Bangladesh: A review
Islam, A.K.M. Monwarul; Majumder, A.A.S.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an increasingly important medical and public health problem, and is the leading cause of mortality in Bangladesh. Like other South Asians, Bangladeshis are unduly prone to develop CAD, which is often premature in onset, follows a rapidly progressive course and angiographically more severe. The underlying pathophysiology is poorly understood. Genetic predisposition, high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and conventional risk factors play important role. Lifestyle related factors, including poor dietary habits, excess saturated and trans fat, high salt intake, and low-level physical activity may be important as well. Some novel risk factors, including hypovitaminosis D, arsenic contamination in water and food-stuff, particulate matter air pollution may play unique role. At the advent of the new millennium, we know little about our real situation. Largescale epidemiological, genetic and clinical researches are needed to explore the different aspects of CAD in Bangladesh. PMID:23993003
Coronary centerline extraction from CT coronary angiography images using a minimum cost path approach
Metz, C. T.; Schaap, M.; Weustink, A. C.; Mollet, N. R.; Walsum, T. van; Niessen, W. J.
Purpose: The application and large-scale evaluation of minimum cost path approaches for coronary centerline extraction from computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) data and the development and evaluation of a novel method to reduce the user-interaction time. Methods: A semiautomatic method based on a minimum cost path approach is evaluated for two different cost functions. The first cost function is based on a frequently used vesselness measure and intensity information, and the second is a recently proposed cost function based on region statistics. User interaction is minimized to one or two mouse clicks distally in the coronary artery. The starting point for the minimum cost path search is automatically determined using a newly developed method that finds a point in the center of the aorta in one of the axial slices. This step ensures that all computationally expensive parts of the algorithm can be precomputed. Results: The performance of the aorta localization procedure was demonstrated by a success rate of 100% in 75 images. The success rate and accuracy of centerline extraction was quantitatively evaluated on 48 coronary arteries in 12 images by comparing extracted centerlines with a manually annotated reference standard. The method was able to extract 88% and 47% of the vessel centerlines correctly using the vesselness/intensity and region statistics cost function, respectively. For only the proximal part of the vessels these values were 97% and 86%, respectively. Accuracy of centerline extraction, defined as the average distance from correctly automatically extracted parts of the centerline to the reference standard, was 0.64 mm for the vesselness/intensity and 0.51 mm for the region statistics cost function. The interobserver variability was 99% for the success rate measure and 0.42 mm for the accuracy measure. Qualitative evaluation using the best performing cost function resulted in successful centerline extraction for 233 out of the 252
[Modern coronary surgery, the SYNTAX trial and updated guidelines].
Thiem, A; Attmann, T; Cremer, J
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a modern and safe procedure, is considered the therapy of choice in the care of patients with multi-vessel disease. The 3-year results of the SYNTAX trial not only showed surgical advantages in terms of repeat revascularisation, but the results also demonstrated significant surgical benefit for myocardial infarction and survival rates. More differentiated analyses showed distinct disadvantages in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) associated with the greater complexity of coronary pathology. PCI tends to be a comparable therapeutic option only in certain cases of left main stem lesions or multi-vessel disease. The findings from the SYNTAX study herald a new era in the treatment of coronary heart disease in which, as recommended in the updated guidelines issued by the EACTS/ESC in 2010, the interventionalist and the surgeon, working closely together as a"heart team", provide a sound therapy plan for affected patients.
Repair techniques for anomalous aortic origins of the coronary arteries.
Mavroudis, Constantine; Mavroudis, Constantine D; Jacobs, Jeffrey P
Anomalous aortic origins of the coronary arteries comprise approximately one-third of all coronary artery anomalies and are characterised by coronary arteries with anomalies of aortic origin involving abnormal courses, stenoses, and compression that can lead to myocardial ischaemia and sudden death. Operative techniques to treat these anomalies have not been standardised yet. Moreover, the management of potential complications has not been addressed. Common and rare forms of anomalous aortic origins of the coronary arteries are reviewed and understood standard techniques for an uncomplicated unroofing procedure are illustrated. Also noted are techniques that can be applied to unexpected anatomical findings and unwanted complications that could prove to be life-threatening. Several technical recommendations are offered.
Coronary artery stents: evaluating new designs for contemporary percutaneous intervention.
Kandzari, David E; Tcheng, James E; Zidar, James P
Intracoronary stents have markedly improved the short- and long-term safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention by improving acute gains in luminal dimensions, decreasing abrupt vessel occlusion, and reducing restenosis. At present, nearly 90% of all coronary interventions involve stenting. A variety of advances in stent technology and design have expanded the clinical application of stenting to include complex coronary lesions, multivessel disease, and small-diameter vessels. In addition, the development of stents as drug delivery systems for antithrombotic or antiproliferative agents has the potential to expand the role of coronary stenting, and early clinical experience appears promising. The purpose of this review is to describe recent developments in stent design, examine the results of clinical trials of contemporary stents, and present future directions for investigation of new stent technologies. PMID:12124974
The relationship of spirituality to coronary heart disease.
Morris, E L
Several studies suggest that religious involvement or spiritual well-being may affect health outcomes. This study was designed to investigate whether the scores from a questionnaire measuring spiritual well-being correlated with progression or regression of coronary heart disease as measured with computerized cardiac catheterization data. Participants in Dr Dean Ornish's Lifestyle Heart Trial were given the "Spiritual Orientation Inventory." A significant difference was found in the spirituality scores between a control group and a research group that practiced daily meditation. The spirituality scores were significantly correlated with the degree of progression or regression of coronary artery obstruction over a 4-year time period. The lowest scores of spiritual well-being had the most progression of coronary obstruction and the highest scores had the most regression. This study suggests that the degree of spiritual well-being may be an important factor in the development of coronary artery disease.
Novel Inflammatory Biomarkers in Coronary Artery Disease: Potential Therapeutic Approaches.
Voudris, Konstantinos V; Chanin, Jake; Feldman, Dmitriy N; Charitakis, Konstantinos
Coronary artery disease constitutes the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the modern world. Inflammation has been implicated to play a key role in the initiation and promotion of atherosclerosis, and the induction of plaque instability, possibly leading to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This review aims to assess the clinical utility of well established (CRP) and novel inflammatory biomarkers (Homocyesteine, SAA, sCD40L, sLOX-1, IMA, MPO, PAPP-A and MMPs) in the diagnosis and outcome prediction of patients with ACS. The PubMed database was searched for reports using the terms "biomarkers", "acute coronary syndrome", "infarction", "markers" and only original articles written in English were included. The diversity of novel biomarkers for coronary artery disease provides an insight of the varied pathophysiology of this disease. A better understanding of their properties and assimilation in daily clinical use is essential for optimal management and patient care in the future. PMID:25891107
[Coronary revascularization during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The bridge code].
Serrano Moraza, A; Del Nogal Sáez, F; Alfonso Manterola, F
Cardiac arrest is one of the major current challenges, due to both its high incidence and mortality and the fact that it leads to severe brain dysfunction in over half of the survivors. The so-called coronary origin Bridge Code is presented, based on the international resuscitation recommendations (2005, 2010). In accordance with a series of strict predictive criteria, this code makes it possible to: (1) select refractory CPR patients with a high or very high presumption of underlying coronary cause; (2) evacuate the patient using mechanical chest compressors [LucasTM, Autopulse®], maintaining coronary and brain perfusion pressures; (3) allow coronary revascularization access during resuscitation maneuvering (PTCA during ongoing CPR); (4) induce early hypothermia; and (5) facilitate post-cardiac arrest intensive care. In the case of treatment failure, the quality of hemodynamic support makes it possible to establish a second bridge to non-heart beating organ donation.
Percutaneous coronary intervention in TAVI: the "proboscis" catheter.
Mancone, Massimo; Pennacchi, Mauro; Sardella, Gennaro
We report a case of an 81-years-old male, recently implanted with a Core Valve (CV) prosthesis and admitted to the ER for acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography revealed the patency of the coronary artery by-pass grafts but was impossible to cannulate the left main "imprisoned" by the CV prosthesis struts. Aortography showed an excessive gap between the CV struts and the coronary ostium. To cross the CV struts, we developed a "proboscis" catheter by cutting away the proximal end of the 7F JL 4 catheter and putting inside the 5F Heartrail catheter. The following angiograms showed a critical stenosis in the proximal obtuse marginal (branch), successfully treated with a bare-metal stent implantation. PMID:22777872
Coronary artery bypass grafting in a patient with organophosphate poisoning.
Pieris, Rajeeva R; Fernando, Ravindra
A 43-year-old male, with no previous history of mental illness, was diagnosed with coronary heart disease, after which he became acutely depressed and attempted suicide by ingesting an organophosphate pesticide. He was admitted to an intensive care unit and treated with pralidoxime, atropine, and oxygen. His coronary occlusion pattern required early coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. His family, apprehensive of a repeat suicidal attempt, requested surgery be performed as soon as possible. He recovered well from the OP poisoning and was mentally fit to express informed consent 2 weeks after admission. Seventeen days after poisoning, he underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and recovered uneventfully. Six years later, he remains in excellent health. We report this case because to the best of our knowledge there is no literature regarding CABG performed soon after organophosphate poisoning.
Therapeutic options in coronary artery disease: Focusing on the guidelines
Schwartz, Leonard
There are three options for the treatment of patients with coronary artery disease: coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and optimal medical treatment alone. While there has been an active interface between CABG and PCI, medical treatment has not been as vociferously advocated. However, it performs well in randomized trials and is still a treatment arm in studies such as the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D) trial. The present review compares these options in acute and chronic coronary syndromes, including the indications for each as summarized by recent American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines. While the landscape in Canada is changing for CABG and PCI, with an increase in the latter procedure for patients with multivessel disease, optimal medical treatment alone is very effective. There are few subsets, particularly in chronic syndromes, in which revascularization is indicated for prognosis alone. PMID:19148338
Diagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction – Present status
Mittal, S.R.
Definite clinical diagnosis of microvascular angina is not possible with the existing knowledge. Resting electrocardiogram may be normal, and exercise electrocardiogram may be unremarkable. Echocardiography usually does not show regional wall motion abnormalities. Transthoracic Doppler echocardiography can satisfactorily evaluate only left anterior descending coronary artery and that too in some patients. Radio-isotope imaging can detect only severe localized disease. Noninvasive diagnosis needs high index of suspicion. At present, definite diagnosis is based on documentation of normal epicardial coronaries, coronary flow reserve less than 2.5 on adenosine induced hyperemia, and absence of spasm of epicardial coronaries on acetylcholine provocation. Invasive evaluation is costly, needs sophisticated equipments and expertise. Therapeutic and prognostic implications of various parameters remains to be evaluated. At present invasive evaluation is recommended only for patients with intractable symptoms with unconfirmed diagnosis, requiring repeated hospitalization and evaluation with failure of empirical therapy. PMID:26702685
Multiple coronary arterial loops as a cause of myocardial ischemia
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Bashour, Tali T.; Mansour, Nagi N.; Lee, Damon
A case of long-standing angina with ischemia documented by exercise testing and thallium scintigraphy in a patient who had multiple proximal loops in all three major coronary arteries in the absence of luminal stenosis, is reported.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a patient with bacterial meningitis
Kinoshita, Kensuke; Tsunoda, Yoshiya; Watanabe, Shigeyuki; Tokuda, Yasuharu
A 40-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of the acute onset of fever and headache, which were attributed to bacterial meningitis. Antibiotic treatment was initiated and his condition gradually improved. On day 5 after admission, immediately after masturbation, he developed abrupt onset of severe chest pain and cold sweat and the ECG suggested acute anterior myocardial infarction. Immediate coronary angiography revealed spontaneous dissection of the left anterior descending artery. After conservative management, his cardiac function improved. Acute coronary syndrome may be rarely caused by spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Sepsis was considered as a probable trigger for spontaneous coronary artery dissection, possibly through vascular damage from increased nitric oxide and sympathetic nervous over-activation. PMID:24194165
Delayed kidney injury following coronary angiography
It is occasionally observed that patients without contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) develop kidney injury within 1–6 months after coronary angiography (CAG), termed delayed CIN or delayed kidney injury (DKI) following CAG. The present study aimed to investigate the associated risk factors of delayed CIN and its possible pathogenesis. Subjects with CAG or coronary stenting from January 2008 to December 2009 were studied. A retrospective survey on DKI after CAG was conducted and the risk factors were analyzed. There were 436 cases receiving CAG with complete medical records enrolled in the present cohort, in which the DKI incidence was 7.1% (31/436). Patients with DKI after CAG exhibited lower hemoglobin (121.2±17.3 vs. 133.8±18.6 g/l), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 66.4±30.2 vs. 71.9±28.6 ml/min), higher serum creatinine (110.9±43.2 vs. 91.7±37.6 µmol/l), higher rate of heart failure (22.6 vs. 5.4%) and 300 mg aspirin therapy (29 vs. 5.7%) compared with non-DKI patients (all P<0.05). However, no differences were observed in morbidities of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and proteinuria, or in the treatments with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor-1 blockers (ARBs), diuretics, statins and other anti-platelets between the two groups (P>0.05). Logistic regression revealed that anemia, heart failure and 300 mg aspirin intake were risk factors of DKI (P<0.05), while the contrast level, isotonic contrast, diabetes, ACE inhibitors/ARBs, eGFR and other factors were not associated with DKI (P>0.05). Heart dysfunction and 300 mg aspirin therapy may contribute to DKI after CAG, and iodinated contrast media administration is not a risk factor. PMID:27347090
Vascular mechanics of the coronary artery
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Veress, A. I.; Vince, D. G.; Anderson, P. M.; Cornhill, J. F.; Herderick, E. E.; Klingensmith, J. D.; Kuban, B. D.; Greenberg, N. L.; Thomas, J. D.
This paper describes our research into the vascular mechanics of the coronary artery and plaque. The three sections describe the determination of arterial mechanical properties using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), a constitutive relation for the arterial wall, and finite element method (FEM) models of the arterial wall and atheroma. METHODS: Inflation testing of porcine left anterior descending coronary arteries was conducted. The changes in the vessel geometry were monitored using IVUS, and intracoronary pressure was recorded using a pressure transducer. The creep and quasistatic stress/strain responses were determined. A Standard Linear Solid (SLS) was modified to reproduce the non-linear elastic behavior of the arterial wall. This Standard Non-linear Solid (SNS) was implemented into an axisymetric thick-walled cylinder numerical model. Finite element analysis models were created for five age groups and four levels of stenosis using the Pathobiological Determinants of Atherosclerosis Youth (PDAY) database. RESULTS: The arteries exhibited non-linear elastic behavior. The total tissue creep strain was epsilon creep = 0.082 +/- 0.018 mm/mm. The numerical model could reproduce both the non-linearity of the porcine data and time dependent behavior of the arterial wall found in the literature with a correlation coefficient of 0.985. Increasing age had a strong positive correlation with the shoulder stress level, (r = 0.95). The 30% stenosis had the highest shoulder stress due to the combination of a fully formed lipid pool and a thin cap. CONCLUSIONS: Studying the solid mechanics of the arterial wall and the atheroma provide important insights into the mechanisms involved in plaque rupture.
Wall shear stress estimates in coronary artery constrictions
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Back, L. H.; Crawford, D. W.
Wall shear stress estimates from laminar boundary layer theory were found to agree fairly well with the magnitude of shear stress levels along coronary artery constrictions obtained from solutions of the Navier Stokes equations for both steady and pulsatile flow. The relatively simple method can be used for in vivo estimates of wall shear stress in constrictions by using a vessel shape function determined from a coronary angiogram, along with a knowledge of the flow rate.
Waiting for coronary angiography: is there a clinically ordered queue?
Hemingway, H; Crook, A M; Feder, G; Dawson, J R; Timmis, A
Among over 3000 patients undergoing coronary angiography in the absence of a formal queue-management system, we found that a-priori urgency scores were strongly associated with waiting times, prevalence of coronary-artery disease, rate of revascularisation, and mortality. These data challenge the widely held assumption that such waiting lists are not clinically ordered; however, the wide variation in waiting times within urgency categories suggests the need for further improvements in clinical queueing.
Contemporary Approach to Coronary Bifurcation Lesion Treatment.
Sawaya, Fadi J; Lefèvre, Thierry; Chevalier, Bernard; Garot, Phillipe; Hovasse, Thomas; Morice, Marie-Claude; Rab, Tanveer; Louvard, Yves
Coronary bifurcations are frequent and account for approximately 20% of all percutaneous coronary interventions. Nonetheless, they remain one of the most challenging lesion subsets in interventional cardiology in terms of a lower procedural success rate and increased rates of long-term adverse cardiac events. Provisional side branch stenting should be the default approach in the majority of cases and we propose easily applicable and reproducible stepwise techniques associated with low risk of failure and complications.
Echocardiographic evaluation of coronary arteries in congenital heart disease.
Freire, Grace; Miller, Michelle S
Among populations of patients with the congenital heart disease, there is considerable diversity in the anatomy of the coronary arteries. Understanding these anatomical differences is vitally important in directing interventions and surgical repair. In this report, the authors describe the echocardiographic evaluation of the variants of coronary artery anatomy in the following lesions: transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, double-inlet left ventricle, common arterial trunk, tetralogy of Fallot, and double-outlet right ventricle.
Automated myocardial perfusion from coronary x-ray angiography
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Storm, Corstiaan J.; Slump, Cornelis H.
The purpose of our study is the evaluation of an algorithm to determine the physiological relevance of a coronary lesion as seen in a coronary angiogram. The aim is to extract as much as possible information from a standard coronary angiogram to decide if an abnormality, percentage of stenosis, as seen in the angiogram, results in physiological impairment of the blood supply of the region nourished by the coronary artery. Coronary angiography, still the golden standard, is used to determine the cause of angina pectoris based on the demonstration of an important stenose in a coronary artery. Dimensions of a lesion such as length and percentage of narrowing can at present easily be calculated by using an automatic computer algorithm such as Quantitative Coronary Angiography (QCA) techniques resulting in just anatomical information ignoring the physiological relevance of the lesion. In our study we analyze myocardial perfusion images in standard coronary angiograms in rest and in artificial hyperemic phases, using a drug e.g. papaverine intracoronary. Setting a Region of Interest (ROI) in the angiogram without overlying major vessels makes it possible to calculate contrast differences as a function of time, so called time-density curves, in the basal and hyperemic phases. In minimizing motion artifacts, end diastolic images are selected ECG based in basal and hyperemic phase in an identical ROI in the same angiographic projection. The development of new algorithms for calculating differences in blood supply in the region as set are presented together with the results of a small clinical case study using the standard angiographic procedure.
Risks and Complications of Coronary Angiography: A Comprehensive Review
Tavakol, Morteza; Ashraf, Salman; Brener, Sorin J.
Coronary angiography and heart catheterization are invaluable tests for the detection and quantification of coronary artery disease, identification of valvular and other structural abnormalities, and measurement of hemodynamic parameters. The risks and complications associated with these procedures relate to the patient's concomitant conditions and to the skill and judgment of the operator. In this review, we examine in detail the major complications associated with invasive cardiac procedures and provide the reader with a comprehensive bibliography for advanced reading. PMID:22980117
The epidemic of the 20(th) century: coronary heart disease.
Dalen, James E; Alpert, Joseph S; Goldberg, Robert J; Weinstein, Ronald S
Heart disease was an uncommon cause of death in the US at the beginning of the 20th century. By mid-century it had become the commonest cause. After peaking in the mid-1960s, the number of heart disease deaths began a marked decline that has persisted to the present. The increase in heart disease deaths from the early 20th century until the 1960s was due to an increase in the prevalence of coronary atherosclerosis with resultant coronary heart disease, as documented by autopsy studies. This increase was associated with an increase in smoking and dietary changes leading to an increase in serum cholesterol levels. In addition, the ability to diagnose acute myocardial infarction with the aid of the electrocardiogram increased the recognition of coronary heart disease before death. The substantial decrease in coronary heart disease deaths after the mid-1960s is best explained by the decreased incidence, and case fatality rate, of acute myocardial infarction and a decrease in out-of-hospital sudden coronary heart disease deaths. These decreases are very likely explained by a decrease in coronary atherosclerosis due to primary prevention, and a decrease in the progression of nonobstructive coronary atherosclerosis to obstructive coronary heart disease due to efforts of primary and secondary prevention. In addition, more effective treatment of patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction has led to a substantial decrease in deaths due to acute myocardial infarction. It is very likely that the 20th century was the only century in which heart disease was the most common cause of death in America.
Chemokine guided angiogenesis directs coronary vasculature formation in zebrafish
Harrison, Michael R.M.; Bussmann, Jeroen; Huang, Ying; Zhao, Long; Osorio, Arthela; Burns, C. Geoffrey; Burns, Caroline E.; Sucov, Henry M.; Siekmann, Arndt F.; Lien, Ching-Ling
SUMMARY Interruption of coronary blood supply severely impairs heart function with often-fatal consequences for heart disease patients. However the formation and maturation of these coronary vessels is not fully understood. Here we provide a detailed analysis of coronary vessel development in zebrafish. We observe that coronary vessels form in zebrafish by angiogenic sprouting of arterial cells derived from the endocardium at the atrioventricular canal. Endothelial cells express the CXC-motif chemokine receptor Cxcr4a and migrate to vascularize the ventricle under the guidance of the myocardium-expressed ligand Cxcl12b. cxcr4a mutant zebrafish fail to form a vascular network, whereas ectopic expression of Cxcl12b ligand induces coronary vessel formation. Importantly, cxcr4a mutant zebrafish fail to undergo heart regeneration following injury. Our results suggest that chemokine-signaling has an essential role in coronary vessel formation by directing migration of endocardium-derived endothelial cells. Poorly developed vasculature in cxcr4a mutants likely underlies decreased regenerative potential in adults. PMID:26017769
Chemokine-guided angiogenesis directs coronary vasculature formation in zebrafish.
Harrison, Michael R M; Bussmann, Jeroen; Huang, Ying; Zhao, Long; Osorio, Arthela; Burns, C Geoffrey; Burns, Caroline E; Sucov, Henry M; Siekmann, Arndt F; Lien, Ching-Ling
Interruption of the coronary blood supply severely impairs heart function with often fatal consequences for patients. However, the formation and maturation of these coronary vessels is not fully understood. Here we provide a detailed analysis of coronary vessel development in zebrafish. We observe that coronary vessels form in zebrafish by angiogenic sprouting of arterial cells derived from the endocardium at the atrioventricular canal. Endothelial cells express the CXC-motif chemokine receptor Cxcr4a and migrate to vascularize the ventricle under the guidance of the myocardium-expressed ligand Cxcl12b. cxcr4a mutant zebrafish fail to form a vascular network, whereas ectopic expression of Cxcl12b ligand induces coronary vessel formation. Importantly, cxcr4a mutant zebrafish fail to undergo heart regeneration following injury. Our results suggest that chemokine signaling has an essential role in coronary vessel formation by directing migration of endocardium-derived endothelial cells. Poorly developed vasculature in cxcr4a mutants likely underlies decreased regenerative potential in adults.
Intracoronary Acetylcholine Provocation Testing for Assessment of Coronary Vasomotor Disorders.
Ong, Peter; Athanasiadis, Anastasios; Sechtem, Udo
Intracoronary acetylcholine provocation testing (ACH-test) is an established method for assessment of epicardial coronary artery spasm in the catheterization laboratory which was introduced more than 30 years ago. Due to the short half-life of acetylcholine it can only be applied directly into the coronary arteries. Several studies have demonstrated the safety and clinical usefulness of this test. However, acetylcholine testing is only rarely applied in the U.S. or Europe. Nevertheless, it has been shown that 62% of Caucasian patients with stable angina and unobstructed coronary arteries on coronary angiography suffer from coronary vasomotor disorders that can be diagnosed with acetylcholine testing. In recent years it has been appreciated that the ACH-test not only assesses the presence of epicardial spasm but that it can also be useful for the detection of coronary microvascular spam. In such cases no epicardial spasm is seen after injection of acetylcholine but ischemic ECG shifts are present together with a reproduction of the patient's symptoms during the test. This article describes the experience with the ACH-test and its implementation in daily clinical routine. PMID:27583694
Postangioplasty restenosis rate between segments of the major coronary arteries.
Hermans, W R; Rensing, B J; Kelder, J C; de Feyter, P J; Serruys, P W
Conflicting data have been published regarding the rate of postangioplasty restenosis observed in diverse segments of the coronary tree. However, these studies may be criticized for their biased selection of patients, methods of analysis, and definitions of restenosis. In the present study, 1,353 patients underwent a successful coronary dilatation of greater than or equal to 1 site. In all, 1,234 patients (91%) had a follow-up angiogram after 6 months, or earlier when indicated by symptoms. All films were processed and analyzed at the thoraxcenter core laboratory with the coronary angiography analysis system (automated contour detection). Restenosis was considered present if the diameter stenosis at follow-up was greater than 50%. No differences in restenosis rates were observed between coronary segments using this categorical definition. A continuous approach was also used; absolute changes in minimal luminal diameter adjusted for vessel size were used in order to allow comparison between vessels of different sizes (relative loss). No significant differences were observed between the coronary segments with this continuous approach. These results suggest that restenosis is a ubiquitous phenomenon without any predilection for a particular site in the coronary tree. PMID:1731459
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection: a case series and literature review
Garcia, Nelson A. Telles; Khan, Abul N.; Boppana, Ratna C.; Smith, Hayden L.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and often lethal cause of acute coronary syndrome, which typically affects young women and otherwise healthy individuals. SCAD can be diagnosed in patients undergoing coronary angiography and can be underestimated. Special techniques such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and intravascular ultrasound should be used when there is suspicion of the condition. In the majority of cases, the left anterior descending (LAD) artery is involved; however, a few cases of the right coronary artery (RCA) involvement have been reported. This article describes three cases of SCAD in women of different ages, all presenting with chest pain. Coronary angiography in conjunction with OCT was used for diagnosis in two of the cases. One of the patients had involvement of the proximal RCA and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention, whereas the other two patients had mid-LAD disease and were treated conservatively with medical therapy. Presently, there are no specific guidelines for the treatment of SCAD, and therapy is individualized according to extent and severity of the condition. PMID:25317273
An Update on the Utility of Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring for Coronary Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction.
Kianoush, Sina; Al Rifai, Mahmoud; Cainzos-Achirica, Miguel; Umapathi, Priya; Graham, Garth; Blumenthal, Roger S; Nasir, Khurram; Blaha, Michael J
Estimating cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is necessary for determining the potential net benefit of primary prevention pharmacotherapy. Risk estimation relying exclusively on traditional CVD risk factors may misclassify risk, resulting in both undertreatment and overtreatment. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring personalizes risk prediction through direct visualization of calcified coronary atherosclerotic plaques and provides improved accuracy for coronary heart disease (CHD) or CVD risk estimation. In this review, we discuss the most recent studies on CAC, which unlike historical studies, focus sharply on clinical application. We describe the MESA CHD risk calculator, a recently developed CAC-based 10-year CHD risk estimator, which can help guide preventive therapy allocation by better identifying both high- and low-risk individuals. In closing, we discuss calcium density, regional distribution of CAC, and extra-coronary calcification, which represent the future of CAC and CVD risk assessment research and may lead to further improvements in risk prediction.
Prediction of coronary risk by SYNTAX and derived scores: synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with taxus and cardiac surgery.
Yadav, Mayank; Palmerini, Tullio; Caixeta, Adriano; Madhavan, Mahesh V; Sanidas, Elias; Kirtane, Ajay J; Stone, Gregg W; Généreux, Philippe
The introduction of the SYNTAX (Synergy Between PCI With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score has prompted a renewed interest for angiographic risk stratification in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Syntax score is based on qualitative and quantitative characterization of coronary artery disease by including 11 angiographic variables that take into consideration lesion location and characteristics. Thus far, this score has been shown to be an effective tool to risk-stratify patients with complex coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in the landmark SYNTAX trial, as well as in other clinical settings. This review provides an overview of its current applications, including its integration with other nonangiographic clinical scores, and explores future applications of the SYNTAX and derived scores.
Automatic Coronary Artery Segmentation Using Active Search for Branches and Seemingly Disconnected Vessel Segments from Coronary CT Angiography
Shim, Hackjoon; Jeon, Byunghwan; Jang, Yeonggul; Hong, Youngtaek; Jung, Sunghee; Ha, Seongmin; Chang, Hyuk-Jae
We propose a Bayesian tracking and segmentation method of coronary arteries on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). The geometry of coronary arteries including lumen boundary is estimated in Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) framework. Three consecutive sphere based filtering is combined with a stochastic process that is based on the similarity of the consecutive local neighborhood voxels and the geometric constraint of a vessel. It is also founded on the prior knowledge that an artery can be seen locally disconnected and consist of branches which may be seemingly disconnected due to plaque build up. For such problem, an active search method is proposed to find branches and seemingly disconnected but actually connected vessel segments. Several new measures have been developed for branch detection, disconnection check and planar vesselness measure. Using public domain Rotterdam CT dataset, the accuracy of extracted centerline is demonstrated and automatic reconstruction of coronary artery mesh is shown. PMID:27536939
Coronary steal due to ruptured right coronary aneurysm causing myocardial infarction in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Hirata, Kazuhito; Yagi, Nobuhito; Wake, Minoru; Takahashi, Takanori; Nakazato, Jun; Miyagi, Tadayoshi; Shimotakahara, Junichi
A 34-year-old female with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) developed an acute inferior myocardial infarction while hospitalized for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus sepsis. An emergent coronary angiography revealed an ectatic proximal left coronary artery and a huge aneurysm (37 mm × 32 mm) in the mid-portion of the right coronary artery, which had ruptured into the right atrium. A "steal phenomenon" due to significant left to right shunt resulting from the ruptured aneurysm was the cause of the myocardial infarction. Infection of the wall of the aneurysm might have contributed to the growth and the rupture in the presence of a pre-existing coronary aneurysm.
A case of vasospastic angina showing resolution of coronary vasospasm in acetylcholine provocation test corresponding to regression of coronary atherosclerosis.
Tani, Shigemasa; Watanabe, Ikuyoshi; Anazawa, Takeo; Kawamata, Hirofumi; Tachibana, Eizo; Fuji, Takeshi; Matsumoto, Michiaki; Onikura, Motoyuki; Sato, Yuichi; Nagao, Ken; Kanmatsuse, Katsuo; Kushiro, Toshio; Hirayama, Atsushi
We experienced a case of vasospastic angina showing resolution of vasospasm in the acetylcholine provocation test corresponding to regression of coronary atherosclerotic plaque following treatment with a combination of benidipine and pravastatin.
Single-centre cohort study of gender influence in coronary CT angiography in patients with a low to intermediate pretest probability of coronary heart disease
Nørgaard, Kirsten Schou; Isaksen, Christin; Buhl, Jørgen Selmer; Kirk Johansen, Jane; Nielsen, Agnete Hedemann; Nørgaard, Aage; Urbonaviciene, Grazina; Lindholt, Jes S; Frost, Lars
Background In 'real-world' patient populations undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA), it is unclear whether a correlation exists between gender, coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and subsequent referral for invasive coronary angiography and coronary revascularisation. We therefore investigated the relationship between gender, CAC and use of subsequent invasive coronary angiography and coronary revascularisation in a cohort of patients with chest discomfort and low to intermediate pretest probability of coronary artery disease who underwent a CCTA at our diagnostic centre. Methods This is a cohort study that included patients examined between 2010 and 2013. Data were obtained from the Western Denmark Heart Registry. The follow-up ended 11 March 2014. Results A total of 3541 people (1621 men and 1920 women) were examined by CCTA. The rate of invasive coronary angiography during follow-up was 28.5% in men versus 18.3% in women (p<0.001). The rate of coronary revascularisation during follow-up was 11.4% in men versus 5.1% in women (p<0.001). The CAC-adjusted HR in women versus men was 0.98 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.13) for invasive coronary angiography and 0.73 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.93) for coronary revascularisation. Further adjustment for age and other risk factors did not change these estimates. Conclusions Women had a lower CAC score than men and a corresponding lower rate of invasive coronary angiography. The risk of coronary revascularisation was modestly reduced in women, irrespective of CAC. This may reflect a gender-specific difference in coping with chest discomfort, gender-specific referral bias for CCTA, and/or a gender-specific difference in the balance between coronary calcification and obstructive coronary heart disease. PMID:26196016
Computerized analysis of coronary artery disease: Performance evaluation of segmentation and tracking of coronary arteries in CT angiograms
Zhou, Chuan Chan, Heang-Ping; Chughtai, Aamer; Kuriakose, Jean; Agarwal, Prachi; Kazerooni, Ella A.; Hadjiiski, Lubomir M.; Patel, Smita; Wei, Jun
Purpose: The authors are developing a computer-aided detection system to assist radiologists in analysis of coronary artery disease in coronary CT angiograms (cCTA). This study evaluated the accuracy of the authors' coronary artery segmentation and tracking method which are the essential steps to define the search space for the detection of atherosclerotic plaques. Methods: The heart region in cCTA is segmented and the vascular structures are enhanced using the authors' multiscale coronary artery response (MSCAR) method that performed 3D multiscale filtering and analysis of the eigenvalues of Hessian matrices. Starting from seed points at the origins of the left and right coronary arteries, a 3D rolling balloon region growing (RBG) method that adapts to the local vessel size segmented and tracked each of the coronary arteries and identifies the branches along the tracked vessels. The branches are queued and subsequently tracked until the queue is exhausted. With Institutional Review Board approval, 62 cCTA were collected retrospectively from the authors' patient files. Three experienced cardiothoracic radiologists manually tracked and marked center points of the coronary arteries as reference standard following the 17-segment model that includes clinically significant coronary arteries. Two radiologists visually examined the computer-segmented vessels and marked the mistakenly tracked veins and noisy structures as false positives (FPs). For the 62 cases, the radiologists marked a total of 10191 center points on 865 visible coronary artery segments. Results: The computer-segmented vessels overlapped with 83.6% (8520/10191) of the center points. Relative to the 865 radiologist-marked segments, the sensitivity reached 91.9% (795/865) if a true positive is defined as a computer-segmented vessel that overlapped with at least 10% of the reference center points marked on the segment. When the overlap threshold is increased to 50% and 100%, the sensitivities were 86
Acute coronary artery thrombosis and vasospasm following capecitabine in conjunction with oxaliplatin treatment for cancer
a Dzaye, Omar Dildar; Cleator, Suzy; Nihoyannopoulos, Petros
Oral capecitabine is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil that has been used into the management of multiple cancers because of the convenience of administration and efficacy at least comparable with 5-fluorouracil. While cardiac complications associated with the use of 5-fluorouracil are well-documented, capecitabine-induced acute coronary syndrome has rarely been reported and often attributed to coronary vasospasm. We report a patient presented with acute coronary syndrome secondary to thrombotic coronary occlusion following treatment with oral capecitabine and intravenous oxaliplatin after resection of non-metastatic, node positive colon carcinoma. Capecitabine may induce acute coronary thrombotic occlusion in addition to coronary vasospasm. PMID:25246465
Single coronary artery from right aortic sinus in a very elderly patient.
Panduranga, Prashanth; Riyami, Abdulla Amour
In the absence of other associated cardiac anomalies, single coronary artery (SCA) per se is a rare anomaly detected during coronary angiography or autopsy. Various types of SCA detected during coronary angiography have already been described. We herein report a type of SCA originating from the right sinus of Valsalva, with the right circumflex, left circumflex, and left anterior descending coronary arteries arising from the proximal part of the SCA in a 76-year-old female patient. She developed ventricular fibrillation during coronary angiography, which calls for caution while performing a coronary angiogram in such patients. PMID:27688674
Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Transaortic Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.
Dellis, Sophia L; Akujuo, Adanna C; Bennett, Edward V; Britton, Lewis W
We sought to demonstrate the effectiveness of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and transcatheter aortic valve replacement in two patients with porcelain aortas and lesions that could not be optimally treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. Patients with aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease who are too high-risk for conventional surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass grafting due to comorbidities and porcelain aorta, and who do not have the appropriate anatomy for percutaneous coronary intervention should be considered for concomitant transcatheter aortic valve replacement and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12762 (J Card Surg 2016;31:435-438). PMID:27196956
Severe Coronary Spasm in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resulting in Recurrent Occlusions and Guide Wire Fracture.
Lai, Chih-Hung; Lu, Tse-Min; Juan, Yu-Hsiang; Chang, Szu-Ling; Lee, Wen-Lieng; Sung, Shih-Hsien
Middle-aged female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction (MI). We report a case of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) MI associated with severe coronary spasm in both the LAD and left circumflex artery, complicated with fracture of the distal wire within the microcatheter which was successfully removed by manual aspiration using an inflation device. From this series of rare complications of SLE with MI, severe coronary spasm and guide wire fracture, we underscore that clinicians performing coronary intervention should be aware of an elevated chance of possible severe coronary spasms in SLE patients. PMID:27471364
Complete rupture of the anterolateral papillary muscle caused by coronary spasm.
Yamazaki, Masataka; Fukui, Toshihiro; Mahara, Keitaro; Takanashi, Shuichiro
Papillary muscle rupture usually occurs as a catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction in patients with coronary artery stenosis; it is therefore less common in patients without coronary artery stenosis. We report the case of a 67-year old woman without coronary artery stenosis who suffered an acute anterolateral papillary muscle rupture and was successfully treated with mitral valve replacement. Evidence of coronary spasm was found on a coronary vasomotion test, suggesting that a high sensitivity to coronary spasm may explain a mechanism of isolated papillary muscle infarction.
ST segment elevation myocardial infarction due to slow coronary flow occurring after cannabis consumption.
Karabulut, Ahmet; Cakmak, Mahmut
Slow coronary flow (SCF) is an angiographic finding defined as the slow movement of contrast throughout the coronary lumen in the absence of epicardial coronary stenosis. It has been reported that SCF can on rare occasions cause ST elevated myocardial infarction (MI). Recent studies have shown that cannabis consumption can increase the risk of coronary heart disease and can trigger acute coronary syndromes, especially in young individuals without common risk factors. Here, we present a case of inferior MI in a patient who had consumed cannabis regularly over a long period and whose coronary angiography revealed SCF. PMID:21108208
Multiple Air Embolism During Coronary Angiography: How Do We Deal With It?
Suastika, Luh Oliva Saraswati; Oktaviono, Yudi Her
Coronary air embolism remains a serious complication of cardiac catheterization despite careful prevention. The complications of coronary air embolism range from clinically insignificant events to acute coronary syndrome, cardiogenic shock, and death. We report here a case of multiple air emboli in both left coronary arteries, complicated by cardiogenic shock and ventricular fibrillation in a 49-year-old male patient undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention. The patient recovered after supportive measures, including oxygen, intravenous dopamine infusion, and cardiac compression, and repeated forceful injection of heparinized saline successfully resolved the air emboli. He then eventually underwent successful percutaneous coronary intervention in the left anterior descending artery without any residual stenosis. PMID:27226738
Coronary artery slow flow associated with angina pectoris and hypotension--a case report.
Burckhartt, B A; Mukerji, V; Alpert, M A
A 56-year-old woman with a history of angina pectoris developed substernal chest pressure and hypotension during coronary angiography. Her baseline coronary angiogram appeared normal. During this episode, injection of contrast medium into the left coronary artery demonstrated coronary artery slow flow in the left anterior descending artery and branches of the circumflex coronary artery, which normalized following the sublingual administration of nitroglycerin. There were no focal areas of coronary artery spasm. This phenomenon may represent a heretofore undescribed mechanism for myocardial ischemia and its sequelae.
[Dextrocardia in situs inversus totalis with obstructive coronary disease. Its treatment by coronary angioplasty by the brachial approach].
da Silva, M J; Arie, S; Garcia, D P; Bellotti, G; Pileggi, F
Dextrocardia in "situs inversus totalis" with obstructive coronary disease is a rare clinical situation, with few cases treated by coronary angioplasty using the femoral approach being reported. In this report we describe the case of a 61-year-old male patient who underwent successful dilatation of two arteries by the brachial approach. We discuss technical aspects related to the procedure, which may be easily performed when proper equipment is available.
Remote reading of coronary CTA exams using a tablet computer: utility for stenosis assessment and identification of coronary anomalies.
Zimmerman, Stefan L; Lin, Cheng T; Chu, Linda C; Eng, John; Fishman, Elliot K
The feasibility of remote reading of coronary CT examinations on tablet computers has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of coronary CT angiography reading using an iPad compared to standard 3D workstations. Fifty coronary CT angiography exams, including a spectrum of coronary artery disease and anatomic variants, were reviewed. Coronary CT angiography exams were interpreted by two readers independently on an iPad application (Siemens Webviewer) and a clinical 3D workstation at sessions 2 weeks apart. Studies were scored per vessel for severity of stenosis on a 0-3 scale (0 none, 1 <50 %, 2 ≥50-69 %, 3 ≥70 %). Coronary anomalies were recorded. A consensus read by two experienced cardiac imagers was used as the reference standard. Level of agreement with the reference for iPad and 3D workstations was compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between agreement and display type and to adjust for inter-reader differences. For both readers, there was no significant difference in agreement with the reference standard for per-vessel stenosis scores using either the 3D workstation or the iPad. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis including reader, workstation, and vessel as co-variates, there was no significant association between workstation type or reader and agreement with the reference standard (p > 0.05). Both readers identified 100 % of coronary anomalies using each technique. Reading of coronary CT angiography examinations on the iPad had no influence on stenosis assessment compared to the standard clinical workstation. PMID:27085532
Prospective Coronary Heart Disease Screening in Asymptomatic Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography: Results and Risk Factor Analysis
Girinsky, Theodore; M'Kacher, Radhia; Koscielny, Serge; Elfassy, Eric; Raoux, François; Carde, Patrice; Santos, Marcos Dos; Margainaud, Jean-Pierre; Sabatier, Laure; Paul, Jean-François
Purpose: To prospectively investigate the coronary artery status using coronary CT angiography (CCTA) in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma treated with combined modalities and mediastinal irradiation. Methods and Materials: All consecutive asymptomatic patients with Hodgkin lymphoma entered the study during follow-up, from August 2007 to May 2012. Coronary CT angiography was performed, and risk factors were recorded along with leukocyte telomere length (LTL) measurements. Results: One hundred seventy-nine patients entered the 5-year study. The median follow-up was 11.6 years (range, 2.1-40.2 years), and the median interval between treatment and the CCTA was 9.5 years (range, 0.5-40 years). Coronary artery abnormalities were demonstrated in 46 patients (26%). Coronary CT angiography abnormalities were detected in nearly 15% of the patients within the first 5 years after treatment. A significant increase (34%) occurred 10 years after treatment (P=.05). Stenoses were mostly nonostial. Severe stenoses were observed in 12 (6.7%) of the patients, entailing surgery with either angioplasty with stent placement or bypass grafting in 10 of them (5.5%). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that age at treatment, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia, as well as radiation dose to the coronary artery origins, were prognostic factors. In the group of patients with LTL measurements, hypertension and LTL were the only independent risk factors. Conclusions: The findings suggest that CCTA can identify asymptomatic individuals at risk of acute coronary artery disease who might require either preventive or curative measures. Conventional risk factors and the radiation dose to coronary artery origins were independent prognostic factors. The prognostic value of LTL needs further investigation.
Remote reading of coronary CTA exams using a tablet computer: utility for stenosis assessment and identification of coronary anomalies.
Zimmerman, Stefan L; Lin, Cheng T; Chu, Linda C; Eng, John; Fishman, Elliot K
The feasibility of remote reading of coronary CT examinations on tablet computers has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of coronary CT angiography reading using an iPad compared to standard 3D workstations. Fifty coronary CT angiography exams, including a spectrum of coronary artery disease and anatomic variants, were reviewed. Coronary CT angiography exams were interpreted by two readers independently on an iPad application (Siemens Webviewer) and a clinical 3D workstation at sessions 2 weeks apart. Studies were scored per vessel for severity of stenosis on a 0-3 scale (0 none, 1 <50 %, 2 ≥50-69 %, 3 ≥70 %). Coronary anomalies were recorded. A consensus read by two experienced cardiac imagers was used as the reference standard. Level of agreement with the reference for iPad and 3D workstations was compared. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between agreement and display type and to adjust for inter-reader differences. For both readers, there was no significant difference in agreement with the reference standard for per-vessel stenosis scores using either the 3D workstation or the iPad. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis including reader, workstation, and vessel as co-variates, there was no significant association between workstation type or reader and agreement with the reference standard (p > 0.05). Both readers identified 100 % of coronary anomalies using each technique. Reading of coronary CT angiography examinations on the iPad had no influence on stenosis assessment compared to the standard clinical workstation.
A Case of Spontaneous Multivessel Coronary Artery Spasm That Underwent Stent Implantation Accompanying ST Segment Elevation on Inferior Electrocardiographic Leads
Nasifov, Muharrem; Goktekin, Ömer
Coronary artery spasm is usually defined as a focal constriction of a coronary artery segment, which is reversible, and causes myocardial ischaemia by restricting coronary blood flow. A coronary spasm may rarely compromise all three epicardial arteries simultaneously. We present a case of severe coronary spasm afflicting all coronary arteries accompanying an ST segment elevation in leads D2-D3 and aVF. PMID:27242934
Effect of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation on non-culprit mild coronary plaques in the culprit coronary artery of patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Kurose, Satoshi; Iwasaka, Junji; Tsutsumi, Hiromi; Yamanaka, Yutaka; Shinno, Hiromi; Fukushima, Yaeko; Higurashi, Kyoko; Imai, Masaru; Masuda, Izuru; Takeda, Shinichi; Kawai, Chuichi; Kimura, Yutaka
Approximately, 70 % of acute myocardial infarctions are known to develop from mild atherosclerotic lesions. Therefore, it is important to evaluate mild coronary plaques to prevent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on mild coronary atherosclerosis in non-culprit lesions in patients with ACS. Forty-one men with ACS who underwent emergency percutaneous coronary interventions and completed a 6-month follow-up were divided into CR and non-CR groups. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was performed using the automatic edge detection program. The target lesion was a mild stenotic segment (10-50 % stenosis) at the distal site of the culprit lesion, and the segment to be analyzed was determined at a segment length ranging from 10 to 15 mm. The plaque area was significantly decreased in the CR group after 6 months, but was significantly increased in the non-CR group (P < 0.05). The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, LDL/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) levels were significantly reduced in both groups (P < 0.01). Peak VO2 in the CR group was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Changes in the plaque area correlated with those in Hs-CRP in both groups, while that association with those in HDL-C was observed in only CR group. Stepwise regression analysis revealed the decrease in Hs-CRP as an independent predictor of plaque area regression in the CR group. CR prevented the progression of mild coronary atherosclerosis in patients with ACS. PMID:25896129
Relation of Plasma Lipoprotein(a) to Subclinical Coronary Plaque Volumes, Three-Vessel and Left Main Coronary Disease, and Severe Coronary Stenoses in Apparently Healthy African-Americans With a Family History of Early-Onset Coronary Artery Disease.
Kral, Brian G; Kalyani, Rita R; Yanek, Lisa R; Vaidya, Dhananjay; Fishman, Elliot K; Becker, Diane M; Becker, Lewis C
Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor in persons of European ancestry. Levels are twofold to threefold higher in African-Americans (AAs), but reported associations with CAD have been inconsistent. The relation of Lp(a) with the extent and severity of subclinical coronary plaque has not been described in AAs. We screened 269 apparently healthy AAs for risk factors and coronary plaque using advanced coronary computed tomographic angiography. Total coronary plaque (TCP), noncalcified coronary plaque, and calcified coronary plaque volumes (mm(3)) were quantified using a validated automated method. Lp(a) was measured by ELISA. Multivariable modeling was performed with adjustment for traditional CAD risk factors and intrafamilial correlations. Mean age was 51 ± 11 years and 64% were female. Plaque was present in 41%. Lp(a) was independently associated with TCP volume [log(TCP + 1)] (p = 0.04), 3-vessel and/or left main involvement (p = 0.04), and at least 1 stenosis >50% (p = 0.006). Best-fit regression analyses showed that subjects with Lp(a) >40 mg/dl were threefold more likely to have 3-vessel and/or left main disease (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 6.8, p = 0.005) and fourfold more likely to have stenosis >50% (95% confidence interval 1.3 to 15.0, p = 0.02). In subjects with plaque (n = 110), multivariable models showed the Lp(a) level was significantly and independently associated with TCP (p = 0.009), noncalcified coronary plaque (p = 0.01), and calcified coronary plaque (p = 0.003) and affected vessel length (p = 0.01). In conclusion, high Lp(a) is strongly associated with coronary plaque volumes, extent, and severity in apparently healthy AAs. High levels of Lp(a) may be particularly important in the pathogenesis of CAD in AAs. PMID:27530333
Hospital mortality in acute coronary syndrome: differences related to gender and use of percutaneous coronary procedures
Aguado-Romeo, María J; Márquez-Calderón, Soledad; Buzón-Barrera, María L
Background To identify differences among men and women with acute coronary syndrome in terms of in-hospital mortality, and to assess whether these differences are related to the use of percutaneous cardiovascular procedures. Methods Observational study based on the Minimum Basic Data Set. This encompassed all episodes of emergency hospital admissions (46,007 cases, including 16,391 women and 29,616 men) with a main diagnosis of either myocardial infarction or unstable angina at 32 hospitals within the Andalusian Public Health System over a four-year period (2000–2003). The relationship between gender and mortality was examined for the population as a whole and for stratified groups depending on the type of procedures used (diagnostic coronary catheterisation and/or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). These combinations were then adjusted for age group, main diagnosis and co-morbidityharlson score). Results During hospitalisation, mortality was 9.6% (4,401 cases out of 46,007), with 11.8% for women and 8.3% for men. There were more deaths among older patients with acute myocardial infarction and greater co-morbidity. Lower mortality was shown in patients undergoing diagnostic catheterisation and/or PTCA. After adjusting for age, diagnosis and co-morbidity, mortality affected women more than men in the overall population (OR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.06–1.22) and in the subgroup of patients where no procedure was performed (OR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.07–1.24). Gender was not an explanatory variable in the subgroups of patients who underwent some kind of procedure. Conclusion Gender has not been associated to in-hospital mortality in patients who undergo some kind of percutaneous cardiovascular procedure. However, in the group of patients without either diagnostic catheterisation or angioplasty, mortality was higher in women than in men. PMID:17631037
Comparative Efficacy of Transradial Versus Transfemoral Approach for Coronary Angiography and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.
Schussler, Jeffrey M; Vasudevan, Anupama; von Bose, Liana J; Won, Jane I; McCullough, Peter A
Transradial artery (TRA) approach is associated with fewer vascular complications and reduced mortality in patients at high risk compared with transfemoral approach (TFA). The objective of our study was to compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients who had coronary angiography by TRA and TFA over the course of hospital implementation of this approach. We included 12,928 patients from Baylor University Medical Center and Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital, Dallas, Texas, who underwent a coronary angiography from January 2008 to March 2015. To control for selection bias and the learning curve, a nested matched study design was used for patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with TRA patients matched with TFA by age (±2 years) and calendar year of the procedure in a ratio of 1:3. TRA for PCI increased from nearly 0% in 2008 to 9% in 2014. Including patients from 2011 to 2015 for the analysis, patients with TFA were older (65 ± 12 vs 64 ± 11) and had lower mean body mass index (30 ± 7 vs 33 ± 9 kg/m(2)) than patients with TRA. Patients with TRA had less bleeding, dialysis, pseudoaneurysm, and access site hematomas than the patients with TRA (0.7% vs 0%; p = 0.02). By a conditional logistic regression, we observed fewer complications, readmissions, and in-hospital deaths among TRA patients than the matched TFA patients. In conclusion, patients undergoing angiography with/without PCI through TRA had fewer complications, readmissions, and a shorter length of hospital stay after procedure versus TFA at our hospital. PMID:27378143
Diabetes is a predictor of coronary artery stenosis in patients hospitalized with heart failure.
Kosuga, Tsuneharu; Komukai, Kimiaki; Miyanaga, Satoru; Kubota, Takeyuki; Nakata, Kotaro; Suzuki, Kenichiro; Yamada, Takayuki; Yoshida, Jun; Kimura, Haruka; Yoshimura, Michihiro
In patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease is the most common underlying heart disease, and is associated with increased mortality. However, estimating the presence or absence of coronary artery disease in patients with heart failure is sometimes difficult without coronary imaging. We reviewed 155 consecutive patients hospitalized with heart failure who underwent coronary angiography. The patients were divided into two groups: patients with (N = 59) and without (N = 96) coronary artery stenosis. The clinical characteristics and blood sampling data were compared between the two groups. The patients with coronary artery stenosis were older than those without. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), dyslipidemia and a history of revascularization was higher in the patients with coronary artery stenosis. Patients with coronary artery stenosis tended to have wall motion asynergy more frequently than those without. On the other hand, the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) was lower in patients with coronary artery stenosis. The serum hemoglobin level and estimated glomerular filtration rate were lower in patients with coronary artery stenosis than in those without. In the multivariate analysis, DM (odds ratio 3.517, 95 % CI 1.601-7.727) was found to be the only the predictor of the presence of coronary artery stenosis in patients with heart failure. In conclusion, coronary imaging is strongly recommended for heart failure patients with DM to confirm the presence of coronary artery stenosis.
Correlation of coronary plaque characteristics and obstructive stenosis with chronic kidney disease by coronary CT angiography
Wang, Chengming; Duanmu, Yibo; Zhu, Yi; Xu, Lu
Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events. We evaluated the correlation of coronary plaque characteristics and obstructive stenosis with CKD by coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Methods We enrolled 491 subjects who were suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing CCTA. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated by the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation. Patients were subdivided into four groups based on their eGFR: normal GFR (n=213, eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2), mild renal insufficiency (n=191, eGFR 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m2), moderate renal insufficiency(n=78, eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2), and severe renal insufficiency (n=9, eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m2). Results Spearman correlation regression analysis showed that the prevalence of any plaque, calcified plaque (CP), mixed plaque (MP) were positively correlate with CKD (r=0.173, P<0.001; r=0.127, P=0.005; r=0.171, P<0.001), after adjustment for traditional risk factors the prevalence of any plaque and MP were still positively correlate with CKD (r=0.106, P=002; r=0.178, P<0.001). And the prevalence of any stenosis and severe stenosis were positively correlate with CKD (r=0.13, P<0.001; r=0.149, P<0.001), after adjustment for traditional risk factors were still positively correlate with CKD (r=0.134, P=0.003; r=0.174, P<0.001). Conclusions CKD is closely related with occurrence of CAD. CKD patients from mild renal insufficiency to severe renal insufficiency are the risk factors for CAD. More serious renal function impairment will indicates higher risk of coronary plaque, MP and obstructive stenosis. PMID:26676159
Outcomes of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection
McGrath-Cadell, Lucy; McKenzie, Pamela; Emmanuel, Sam; Muller, David W M; Graham, Robert M; Holloway, Cameron J
Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon but serious condition presenting as an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or cardiac arrest. The pathophysiology and outcomes are poorly understood. We investigated the characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting with SCAD. Methods In a retrospective study of a large cohort of patients with SCAD, data were collected regarding clinical presentation, patient characteristics, vascular screening, coronary artery involvement and clinical outcomes. Results 40 patients with SCAD (95% women, mean age 45±10 years) were included. At least 1 traditional cardiovascular risk factor was present in 40% of patients. Migraine was reported in 43% of patients. Events preceding SCAD included parturition (8%), physical stress (13%), emotional stress (10%) and vasoconstrictor substance-use (8%). 65% of patients had a non-ST elevation ACS (NSTEACS) at presentation, 30% had an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 13% had a cardiac arrest. The left anterior descending artery was most frequently involved (68% of patients), and 13% had involvement of multiple coronary territories. Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) was identified in 7 (37%) of 19 patients screened. 68% of patients were managed medically, 30% had percutaneous coronary intervention and 5% had coronary artery bypass grafting. Over a median 16-month follow-up period, 8% of patients had at least 1 recurrent SCAD event. There were no deaths. Conclusions Patients with SCAD in this study often had multiple coronary territories involved (13%) and extracardiac vascular abnormalities, suggesting a systemic vascular process, which may explain the high incidence of migraine. All patients with SCAD should be screened for FMD and followed closely due to the possibility of recurrence.
Comparison of serum levels of inflammatory markers in patients with coronary vasospasm without significant fixed coronary artery disease versus patients with stable angina pectoris and acute coronary syndromes with significant fixed coronary artery disease.
Hung, Ming-Jui; Cherng, Wen-Jin; Cheng, Chi-Wen; Li, Li-Fu
Serum levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1, and C-reactive protein) were measured at baseline in serum samples from 189 patients who were admitted for coronary angiography because of suspected ischemic heart disease. Median duration of follow-up was 28 months. Patients in our sample were enrolled in 4 diagnostic groups: no hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD) and no coronary vasospasm (control group, n = 32), hemodynamically significant CAD and stable angina pectoris (SAP group, n = 34), coronary vasospastic angina pectoris without hemodynamically significant CAD (vasospasm group, n = 31), and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and hemodynamically significant CAD (ACS group, n = 92). Overall, the level of serum inflammatory markers was highest in the ACS group and lowest in the control group, with intermediate values observed in the SAP and vasospasm groups, with the exception of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, the level of which was highest in the vasospasm group. Multivariate analysis showed that log (interleukin-6) was independently associated with a diagnosis of coronary vasospastic angina pectoris in patients without hemodynamically significant CAD (odds ratio 8.48, p = 0.027). Patients in the ACS group had a significantly lower survival rate compared with the other 3 groups but without an independent predictor that could be identified in this patient cohort. Recurrent angina pectoris occurred with similar rates in the SAP, vasospasm, and ACS groups. The independent predictor for recurrent angina pectoris was treatment that did not include clopidogrel (odds ratio 3.88, p = 0.007). In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that inflammation can exist in coronary vasospasm without hemodynamically significant CAD.
Responses of coronary arteries of cardiac transplant patients to acetylcholine.
Fish, R D; Nabel, E G; Selwyn, A P; Ludmer, P L; Mudge, G H; Kirshenbaum, J M; Schoen, F J; Alexander, R W; Ganz, P
Accelerated coronary atherosclerosis is a major cause of graft failure after heart transplantation. Graft atherosclerosis is typically diffuse and difficult to detect even with coronary arteriography. Recently, acetylcholine was shown to dilate blood vessels by releasing a vasorelaxant substance from the endothelium (endothelium-derived relaxing factor). We have demonstrated paradoxical vasoconstriction induced by acetylcholine both early and late in the course of coronary atherosclerosis in patients, suggesting an association of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. In this report, we tested the hypothesis that coronary arteries of heart transplant patients can show endothelial dysfunction before or in the early stages of angiographically evident coronary atherosclerosis. Acetylcholine was infused into the left anterior descending artery of 13 heart transplant patients at 12 (n = 9) and 24 (n = 4) mo after transplantation. Vascular responses were evaluated by quantitative angiography. Among patients with angiographically smooth coronary arteries, relatively few (6/25) arterial segments had preserved vasodilator responses, while the majority failed to dilate (10/25) or paradoxically constricted (9/25). Angiographically irregular coronary arteries were present in three patients, in whom 8/10 segments showed marked paradoxical constriction and the remaining 2/10 failed to dilate. Only 1 of 13 patients retained appropriate dilation to acetylcholine in all segments. Nitroglycerin, which acts directly on vascular smooth muscle, dilated nearly all segments. No clinical features of the patients, including myocardial rejection appeared to correlate with the impaired functional response of vessels. Thus impaired response to acetylcholine is a common early finding in heart transplant patients and emphasizes the potential importance of endothelial dysfunction in the development of atherosclerosis. Images PMID:3121675
Outcomes of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection
McGrath-Cadell, Lucy; McKenzie, Pamela; Emmanuel, Sam; Muller, David W M; Graham, Robert M; Holloway, Cameron J
Background Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is an uncommon but serious condition presenting as an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or cardiac arrest. The pathophysiology and outcomes are poorly understood. We investigated the characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting with SCAD. Methods In a retrospective study of a large cohort of patients with SCAD, data were collected regarding clinical presentation, patient characteristics, vascular screening, coronary artery involvement and clinical outcomes. Results 40 patients with SCAD (95% women, mean age 45±10 years) were included. At least 1 traditional cardiovascular risk factor was present in 40% of patients. Migraine was reported in 43% of patients. Events preceding SCAD included parturition (8%), physical stress (13%), emotional stress (10%) and vasoconstrictor substance-use (8%). 65% of patients had a non-ST elevation ACS (NSTEACS) at presentation, 30% had an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and 13% had a cardiac arrest. The left anterior descending artery was most frequently involved (68% of patients), and 13% had involvement of multiple coronary territories. Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) was identified in 7 (37%) of 19 patients screened. 68% of patients were managed medically, 30% had percutaneous coronary intervention and 5% had coronary artery bypass grafting. Over a median 16-month follow-up period, 8% of patients had at least 1 recurrent SCAD event. There were no deaths. Conclusions Patients with SCAD in this study often had multiple coronary territories involved (13%) and extracardiac vascular abnormalities, suggesting a systemic vascular process, which may explain the high incidence of migraine. All patients with SCAD should be screened for FMD and followed closely due to the possibility of recurrence. PMID:27621835
Hypothyroidism Is Associated With Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Women
Sara, Jaskanwal D; Zhang, Ming; Gharib, Hossein; Lerman, Lilach O; Lerman, Amir
Background Hypothyroidism is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease, beyond that which can be explained by its association with conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Coronary endothelial dysfunction precedes atherosclerosis, has been linked to adverse cardiovascular events, and may account for some of the increased risk in patients with hypothyroidism. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between epicardial and microvascular coronary endothelial dysfunction and hypothyroidism. Methods and Results In 1388 patients (mean age 50.5 [12.3] years, 34% male) presenting with stable chest pain to Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN for diagnostic coronary angiography, and who were found to have nonobstructive coronary artery disease (<40% stenosis), we invasively assessed coronary artery endothelial-dependent microvascular and epicardial function by evaluating changes in coronary blood flow (% Δ CBF Ach) and diameter (% Δ CAD Ach), respectively, in response to intracoronary infusions of acetylcholine. Patients were divided into 2 groups: hypothyroidism, defined as a documented history of hypothyroidism or a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) >10.0 mU/mL, n=188, and euthyroidism, defined as an absence of a history of hypothyroidism in the clinical record and/or 0.3
Regulation of coronary blood flow in health and ischemic heart disease.
Duncker, Dirk J; Koller, Akos; Merkus, Daphne; Canty, John M
The major factors determining myocardial perfusion and oxygen delivery have been elucidated over the past several decades, and this knowledge has been incorporated into the management of patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). The basic understanding of the fluid mechanical behavior of coronary stenoses has also been translated to the cardiac catheterization laboratory where measurements of coronary pressure distal to a stenosis and coronary flow are routinely obtained. However, the role of perturbations in coronary microvascular structure and function, due to myocardial hypertrophy or coronary microvascular dysfunction, in IHD is becoming increasingly recognized. Future studies should therefore be aimed at further improving our understanding of the integrated coronary microvascular mechanisms that control coronary blood flow, and of the underlying causes and mechanisms of coronary microvascular dysfunction. This knowledge will be essential to further improve the treatment of patients with IHD.
Diagnosis & Treatment | Coronary Artery Disease | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine
... to keep it open after angioplasty. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a type of surgery that ... veins from other areas in your body to bypass your narrowed coronary arteries. CABG can improve blood ...
Mind-body therapy in the management and prevention of coronary disease.
Pandya, D P; Vyas, V H; Vyas, S H
Conventional mind-body therapy has been proven a valuable noninvasive way to manage coronary disease. Yoga practice, especially, has been found to be valuable in preventing adverse outcomes of coronary disease by improving resistance to stress.
An asymptomatic case of a single coronary artery in a 7-year-old girl.
Yaoita, Hisao; Kimura, Masato; Kure, Shigeo
We describe the case of a 7-year-old girl with a single coronary artery. The coronary artery passed between the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery, and an aberrant vessel ran anterior to the latter.
Simultaneous thrombosis of multiple coronary arteries in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis
Kalayci, Arzu; Arslan, Erol; Bakar, Salih Murat; Guneri, Mahmut; Dizman, Rafet; Kivanc, Eylem; Karabay, Can Yucel
We present a case of simultaneous coronary thrombosis of the left main, the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery in a patient, recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. PMID:27489603
Simultaneous thrombosis of multiple coronary arteries in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kalayci, Arzu; Arslan, Erol; Bakar, Salih Murat; Guneri, Mahmut; Dizman, Rafet; Kivanc, Eylem; Karabay, Can Yucel
We present a case of simultaneous coronary thrombosis of the left main, the left anterior descending artery and the right coronary artery in a patient, recently diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. PMID:27489603
Postpartal dissection of all coronary arteries in an in vitro-fertilized postmenopausal woman.
Karadag, Bilgehan; Roffi, Marco
Myocardial infarction complicates approximately 1 in 10,000 pregnancies. Although coronary artery dissection is the leading cause of pregnancy-related myocardial infarction during the postpartum period, the pathogenesis of coronary dissection during this period remains uncertain.Herein, we report the case of a 52-year-old black postmenopausal woman with no apparent cardiovascular risk factors who gave birth to twins after in vitro fertilization. Ten days after delivery, she presented with an acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography revealed dissection of all 3 coronary arteries. Despite aggressive medical management, the patient experienced recurrent myocardial ischemia. Repeat coronary angiography revealed progression of the dissection process, which required urgent coronary artery bypass surgery. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. To our knowledge, this report is the 1st description of pregnancy-associated coronary artery dissections in a postmenopausal woman, and the 1st such event in a pregnancy that resulted from in vitro fertilization.
Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with mirror-imaging dextrocardia.
Yuan, Xin; Sun, Hansong; Wang, Xianqiang
Dextrocardia requires alterations in techniques during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We report two cases undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCAB) surgery and discuss techniques for the operative management of these patients.
Prevalence of coronary artery disease in patients with isolated aortic valve stenosis.
Exadactylos, N; Sugrue, D D; Oakley, C M
The prevalence of significant coronary artery disease (reduction in luminal diameter by more than 50%) among 88 consecutive patients with aortic stenosis requiring aortic valve replacement at Hammersmith Hospital was examined. Twenty two (34%) patients had significant coronary disease. Nineteen of 42 (45%) patients with typical angina had coronary disease; three of 20 (15%) patients with atypical chest pain had coronary disease, while none of 26 patients free of chest pain had significant coronary disease. Risk factors for coronary disease were equally distributed among patients with and without significant luminal obstruction. Because of the small, but definite, hazard of coronary arteriography and in the interest of cost containment it is suggested that patients with aortic stenosis who are free of chest pain do not require routine coronary arteriography. This applies particularly to patients requiring urgent aortic valve replacement. PMID:6691863
Acute Coronary Syndrome: Posthospital Outpatient Management.
Veauthier, Brian; Sievers, Karlynn; Hornecker, Jaime
When providing care for patients who are discharged from the hospital after experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS), several issues should be addressed. Drug regimens should be reviewed to ensure that patients are taking appropriate drugs, including antiplatelet agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, aldosterone antagonists, beta blockers/calcium channel blockers, cholesterol-lowering drugs, and nitroglycerin. The review also should confirm that patients understand when and how to take their drugs, and that there are no obstacles (eg, cost) that might result in nonadherence to drug regimens. Lifestyle modifications, including improvements in diet and exercise regimens, along with participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program, should be encouraged. Risk factor reduction measures include smoking cessation for smokers, weight management for patients who are overweight, and optimal control of blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Appropriate vaccinations should be administered; influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are indicated for all patients with ACS in the absence of contraindications. Patients requiring pain control should avoid use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because they increase the risk of cardiovascular events; acetaminophen or other drugs should be used. Finally, depression is common among patients with ACS. Screening for and management of depression are significant components of care. PMID:26439396
Conduits for Coronary Bypass: Internal Thoracic Artery
This second report in the series on coronary artery bypass presents the authors experience and personal views on the internal thoracic artery (ITA) which date to 1966. There has been a very gradual evolution in the acceptance of this conduit which was initially compared with the saphenous vein and viewed as an improbable alternative to it. As is common with concepts and techniques which are 'outside the box' there was skepticism and criticism of this new conduit which was more difficult and time consuming to harvest for the surgeon who had to do it all. It was viewed as small, fragile, spastic and its flow capacity was questioned. Only a few surgeons employed it because of these issues and some of them would frequently graft it to the diagonal artery as it was thought not to supply adequate flow for the left anterior descending unless it was small. After a decade, angiographic data revealed superior patency to vein grafts. Even this evidence and survival benefit reported a few years later did not convince many surgeons that their concerns about limitations justified its use. Thus widespread adaption of the ITA as the conduit of choice for the anterior descending required another decade and bilateral use is only now expanding to more than 5% of patients in the US and somewhat faster in other countries. PMID:23275918
Prognostic biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome
Pavan, Chiara
The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of death around the globe. Beside a still high mortality rate, additional complications of ACS include arrhythmias, left ventricular mural thrombus, cardiac fibrosis, heart failure (HF), cardiogenic shock, mitral valve dysfunction, aneurysms, up to cardiac rupture. Despite many prognostic tools have been developed over the past decades, efforts are still ongoing to identify reliable and predictive biomarkers, which may help predict the prognosis of these patients and especially the risk of HF. Recent evidence suggests that the value of a discrete number of biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis, namely the soluble form of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) and galectin-3 (GAL-3), may be predictive of HF and death in patients with ACS. Interestingly, the already promising predictive value of these biomarkers when measured alone was shown to be consistently magnified when combined with other and well-established cardiac biomarkers such natriuretic peptides and cardiac troponins. This article is hence aimed to review the current knowledge about cardiac biomarkers of fibrosis and adverse remodeling. PMID:27500159
Dietary fats and coronary heart disease.
Willett, W C
The relation of dietary fat to risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been studied extensively using many approaches, including controlled feeding studies with surrogate end-points such as plasma lipids, limited randomized trials and large cohort studies. All lines of evidence indicate that specific dietary fatty acids play important roles in the cause and the prevention of CHD, but total fat as a percent of energy is unimportant. Trans fatty acids from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have clear adverse effects and should be eliminated. Modest reductions in CHD rates by further decreases in saturated fat are possible if saturated fat is replaced by a combination of poly- and mono-unsaturated fat, and the benefits of polyunsaturated fat appear strongest. However, little or no benefit is likely if saturated fat is replaced by carbohydrate, but this will in part depend on the form of carbohydrate. Because both N-6 and N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential and reduce risk of heart disease, the ratio of N-6 to N-3 is not useful and can be misleading. In practice, reducing red meat and dairy products in a food supply and increasing intakes of nuts, fish, soy products and nonhydrogenated vegetable oils will improve the mix of fatty acids and have a markedly beneficial effect on rates of CHD.
Oxygen Mass Transport in Stented Coronary Arteries.
Murphy, Eoin A; Dunne, Adrian S; Martin, David M; Boyle, Fergal J
Oxygen deficiency, known as hypoxia, in arterial walls has been linked to increased intimal hyperplasia, which is the main adverse biological process causing in-stent restenosis. Stent implantation has significant effects on the oxygen transport into the arterial wall. Elucidating these effects is critical to optimizing future stent designs. In this study the most advanced oxygen transport model developed to date was assessed in two test cases and used to compare three coronary stent designs. Additionally, the predicted results from four simplified blood oxygen transport models are compared in the two test cases. The advanced model showed good agreement with experimental measurements within the mass-transfer boundary layer and at the luminal surface; however, more work is needed in predicting the oxygen transport within the arterial wall. Simplifying the oxygen transport model within the blood flow produces significant errors in predicting the oxygen transport in arteries. This study can be used as a guide for all future numerical studies in this area and the advanced model could provide a powerful tool in aiding design of stents and other cardiovascular devices.
Recurrent coronary stent thromboses and myocardial infarctions.
Chen, Jack; Rajeev, Angampally
Although stent thrombosis is a recognized complication of coronary intervention, recurrent stent thrombosis is rarely reported. We present a patient who suffered 3 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions associated with repeated stent thromboses within a month and a half. Although a potentially mechanical cause of thrombosis was identified in the only baremetal stent implanted in this case, no predisposing factors were seen for the 2 drug-eluting stents (DES). While recent worrisome data have suggested a slight increase in the incidence of late angiographic stent thrombosis (defined as occurring beyond 30 days) with drug-eluting stents (DES), their risk of subacute thrombosis (from 1 to 30 days) is reported to be equivalent to that of BMS. Therefore, this rare occurrence serves as a sobering reminder of the risks of subacute thrombosis with both BMS and DES. Marked neointimal inhibition, allergic reactions, as well as thienopyridine resistance, may all contribute to the pathophysiology of DES thrombosis. The Food and Drug Administration advisory panel has concluded that when these devices are used for "on-label" indications, the counterbalance of dramatic target lesion revascularization reduction versus rare incidence of late angiographic stent thrombosis results in no overall increase in DES myocardial infarction or mortality risk. Furthermore, a minimum of 1 year of dual antiplatelet therapy is recommended for all recipients of DES at low risk of bleeding.
Coronary Heart Disease Attributable to Passive Smoking
Lightwood, James M.; Coxson, Pamela G.; Bibbins-Domingo, Kirsten; Williams, Lawrence W.; Goldman, Lee
Background Passive smoking is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD), and existing estimates are out of date due to recent and substantial changes in the level of exposure. Objective To estimate the annual clinical burden and cost of CHD treatment attributable to passive smoking. Outcome measures Annual attributable CHD deaths, myocardial infarctions (MI), total CHD events, and the direct cost of CHD treatment. Methods A Monte Carlo simulation estimated the CHD events and costs as a function of the prevalence of CHD risk factors, including passive-smoking prevalence and a low (1.26) and high (1.65) relative risk of CHD due to passive smoking. Estimates were calculated using the CHD Policy Model, calibrated to reproduce key CHD outcomes in the baseline Year 2000 in the U.S. Results At 1999–2004 levels, passive smoking caused 21,800 (SE=2400) to 75,100 (SE=8000) CHD deaths and 38,100 (SE=4300) to 128,900 (SE=14,000) MIs annually, with a yearly CHD treatment cost of $1.8 (SE=$0.2) to $6.0 (SE=$0.7) billion. If recent trends in the reduction in the prevalence of passive smoking continue from 2000 to 2008, the burden would be reduced by approximately 25%–30%. Conclusions Passive smoking remains a substantial clinical and economic burden in the U.S. PMID:19095162
Prognostic biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome.
Salvagno, Gian Luca; Pavan, Chiara
The acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of death around the globe. Beside a still high mortality rate, additional complications of ACS include arrhythmias, left ventricular mural thrombus, cardiac fibrosis, heart failure (HF), cardiogenic shock, mitral valve dysfunction, aneurysms, up to cardiac rupture. Despite many prognostic tools have been developed over the past decades, efforts are still ongoing to identify reliable and predictive biomarkers, which may help predict the prognosis of these patients and especially the risk of HF. Recent evidence suggests that the value of a discrete number of biomarkers of myocardial fibrosis, namely the soluble form of suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) and galectin-3 (GAL-3), may be predictive of HF and death in patients with ACS. Interestingly, the already promising predictive value of these biomarkers when measured alone was shown to be consistently magnified when combined with other and well-established cardiac biomarkers such natriuretic peptides and cardiac troponins. This article is hence aimed to review the current knowledge about cardiac biomarkers of fibrosis and adverse remodeling. PMID:27500159
Control of hypertension in coronary heart disease.
Banegas, J R; de la Sierra, A; Segura, J; Gorostidi, M; de la Cruz, J; Rodríguez-Artalejo, F; Ruilope, L M
This observational study investigates, for the first time, the actual or out-of-office control of hypertension among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients, by using 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). We used the Spanish Society of Hypertension ABPM Registry, based on a large-scale network of primary-care physicians consecutively recruiting hypertensive patients with conventional clinical indications for ABPM. The average of two office BP measurements was used for analyses. Thereafter, 24-h ABPM was performed, using a SpaceLabs 90207 device. Out-of-office control of hypertension among 2434 treated essential hypertensive patients with clinically documented CHD was much higher (46.4%) than in-office BP control (28.7%). This considerable difference was partly due to the presence of 25.2% of patients with "office resistance", i.e., normal ambulatory BP but with high office BP despite treatment. Although further efforts in controlling BP are needed in CHD patients, physicians should be also comforted by BP results better than previously believed based on office data. PMID:18353471
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and coronary artery disease.
Cicchitto, Gaetano; Musella, Valentina; Acitorio, Maria; Capuano, Nicola; Fiorenzano, Giuseppe; Owen, Caroline A; Polverino, Mario; Polverino, Francesca
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is defined as a chronic fibrosing interstitial disease of unknown cause, limited to the lungs, and associated with the histopathologic and/or radiologic pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP); it generally progresses into respiratory failure and death. Although progression of the disease is the most common cause of death, there are increasing reports of its association with other pathologies has been reported: e.g., IPF patients seem more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, other pathologies might also influence the natural course. In this paper, we describe a case of IPF and coronary artery disease (CAD). We emphasize the importance of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) as a useful procedure to monitor disease progression in IPF patients. We also stress the importance of a careful analysis of variables measured for an accurate interpretation of the clinical picture and an improvement of the clinical management of patients. Moreover, we suggest that a careful assessment of CPET parameters may additionally help in the early detection of high cardiovascular ischemic risk.
Endothelin Receptor Subtype Distribution Predisposes Coronary Arteries to Damage
Louden, Calvert S.; Nambi, Ponnal; Pullen, Mark A.; Thomas, Roberta A.; Tierney, Lauren A.; Solleveld, Henk A.; Schwartz, Lester W.
Several vasoactive drugs that lower blood pressure and increase heart rate induce regional cardiotoxicity in the dog, most frequently of right coronary arteries and right atrium. The basis for this selective damage is thought to result from local changes in vascular tone and blood flow. Administration of an endothelin receptor antagonist (ETRA, SB 209670) to dogs induced damage most frequent and severe in the right coronary artery and right atrium. Because site predisposition may correlate with distribution of vasoactive receptors, the objectives of this study were to map endothelin (ET) receptor distribution and density within regions of dog heart using both gene (mRNA) and protein expression endpoints for dog ETA and ETB receptors, and, additionally, correlate ET receptor subtype density with regional cardiac blood flow. A 10- to 15-mmHg reduction in mean arterial pressure with a concomitant increase in heart rate (10–20%), a six- and twofold increase in regional blood flow to the right and left atrium, respectively, and acute hemorrhage, medial necrosis, and inflammation were observed in the right coronary arteries and arteries of the right atrium after ETRA infusion for 5 days. Radioligand protein binding to quantify both ET receptors in normal dog heart indicated a twofold greater density of ET receptors in atrial regions versus ventricular regions. Importantly, ET receptor density in coronary arteries was markedly (about five- to sixfold) increased above that in atrial or ventricular tissues. ET receptor subtype characterization indicated ETB receptors were three times more prevalent in right coronary arteries compared to left coronary arteries and in situ hybridization confirmed localization of ETB in vascular smooth muscle. ETA receptor density was comparable in right and left coronary arteries. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for ETA and ETB receptor mRNA transcripts supported the site prevalence for message distribution. Consequently
Coronary Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Use in the Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease.
Testa, Luca; Latib, Azeem; Montone, Rocco A; Colombo, Antonio; Bedogni, Francesco
Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) represent a promising novel approach for the treatment of coronary artery disease. BVS promise to address some of the well-known limitations of current drug-eluting stents, while providing a transient scaffolding of the vessel to prevent acute vessel closure/recoil. Drug elution by BVS prevents neointimal proliferation in a similar fashion to drug-eluting stents, and complete bioresorption is associated with late vessel lumen enlargement, plaque regression, and restoration of vasomotion. Based on the pathophysiological reasons and on the results derived from clinical studies, BVS are increasingly being used in clinical practice. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current evidence supporting the use of BVS in clinical practice. In particular, we will discuss the randomized controlled trials and registries evaluating the clinical outcome of these devices, with a special focus on their application in patients with acute coronary syndrome and in specific lesion subsets (bifurcations, chronic total occlusions, and in-stent restenosis). PMID:27412870
Cost-effectiveness modelling of percutaneous coronary interventions in stable coronary artery disease
Beresniak, Ariel; Caruba, Thibaut; Sabatier, Brigitte; Juillière, Yves; Dubourg, Olivier; Danchin, Nicolas
The objective of this study is to develop a cost-effectiveness model comparing drug eluting stents (DES) vs bare metal stent (BMS) in patients suffering of stable coronary artery disease. Using a 2-years time horizon, two simulation models have been developed: BMS first line strategy and DES first line strategy. Direct medical costs were estimated considering ambulatory and hospital costs. The effectiveness endpoint was defined as treatment success, which is the absence of major adverse cardiac events. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were carried out using 10000 Monte-Carlo simulations. DES appeared slightly more efficacious over 2 years (60% of success) when compared to BMS (58% of success). Total costs over 2 years were estimated at 9303 € for the DES and at 8926 € for bare metal stent. Hence, corresponding mean cost-effectiveness ratios showed slightly lower costs (P < 0.05) per success for the BMS strategy (15520 €/success), as compared to the DES strategy (15588 €/success). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is 18850 € for one additional percent of success. The sequential strategy including BMS as the first option appears to be slightly less efficacious but more cost-effective compared to the strategy including DES as first option. Future modelling approaches should confirm these results as further comparative data in stable coronary artery disease and long-term evidence become available. PMID:26516413
Previous percutaneous coronary intervention increases morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting
Mehta, Gaurav S.; LaPar, Damien J.; Bhamidipati, Castigliano M.; Kern, John A.; Kron, Irving L.; Upchurch, Gilbert R.; Ailawadi, Gorav
Background We hypothesized that the incidence of previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is increasing and that prior PCI influences patient morbidity and mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods A total of 34,316 patients underwent isolated CABG operations at 16 different statewide, institutions from 2001 to 2008. Patients were stratified into prior PCI (n = 4346; 12.7%) and no prior PCI (n = 29,970). Patient risk factors, intraoperative variables, and outcomes were compared by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The incidence of prior PCI in CABG has risen from <1% to 22.0% from 2001 to 2008 (P < .001). Prior PCI patients were younger (P < .001) and more commonly had previous myocardial infarction (P < .001), but less commonly had heart failure (P < .001). The operative mortality was similar between groups (2.3% vs 1.9%; P = .13). Prior PCI patients had more major complications (15.0% vs 12.0%; P < .001), longer hospitalization (P = .01), and higher readmission rates (P = .01). Importantly, by multivariate analyses, prior PCI was not associated with mortality, but was an independent predictor of major complications after CABG (odds ratio, 1.15; P = .01). Conclusion The incidence of prior PCI in patients undergoing CABG is increasing. Previous PCI is associated with a higher risk of major complications, greater hospital length of stay, and higher readmission rates after CABG. PMID:22503323
Unusual right coronary artery anomaly with major implication during cardiac operations.
Gaudino, M; Glieca, F; Bruno, P; Piancone, F L; Alessandrini, F; Possati, G
We report a case in which an unrevealed high origin of the right coronary artery (almost 4 cm above the left coronary sinus) led to major complications during a routine atrial septal defect closure. We stress that, in absence of preoperative coronary angiography, coronary artery anomalies should always be considered and minimal ascending aorta manipulation and antegrade/ retrograde myocardial protection should be recommended. PMID:9307486
Non-coronary abnormalities of the left heart: CT angiography findings.
Öztürk, Ersin; Kafadar, Cahit; Tutar, Süleyman; Bozlar, Uğur; Hagspiel, Klaus D
Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is most commonly performed for the evaluation of the coronary arteries; however, non-coronary cardiac pathologies are frequently detected on these scans. In cases where magnetic resonance imaging cannot be used, cardiac CT can serve as the first-line imaging modality to evaluate many non-coronary cardiac pathologies. In this article, we discuss congenital non-coronary abnormalities of the left heart and their cardiac CT imaging features. PMID:27609435
Frequency of stent thrombosis after acute coronary syndromes (from the SYMPHONY and 2nd SYMPHONY trials).
Tolleson, Thaddeus R; Newby, L Kristin; Harrington, Robert A; Bhapkar, Manjushri V; Verheugt, Freek W A; Berger, Peter B; Moliterno, David J; White, Harvey D; Ohman, E Magnus; Van de Werf, Frans; Topol, Eric J; Califf, Robert M
We studied stent thrombosis in 4,607 patients with acute coronary syndromes who received a coronary stent as part of routine care during 2 trials of aspirin versus sibrafiban for secondary prevention. In these patients, stent thrombosis occurred more often than in previous patients who underwent elective percutaneous coronary intervention. These patients and their outcomes may be more representative of patients with typical acute coronary syndromes undergoing stenting in clinical practice.
Acute Myocardial Infarction Due to Spontaneous Dissection of the Right Coronary Artery in a Young Male
Papadopoulos, Dimitris P. Moyssakis, Ioannis; Perakis, Alexandros; Athanasiou, Andreas; Anagnostopoulou, Sophia; Benos, Ioannis; Votteas, Vassilios E.
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare cause of acute myocardial infarction. We report a case of a 33-year-old male who presented with an acute inferior myocardial infarction. Coronary arteriography performed 3 hours after the episode revealed a dissection involving the middle segment of right coronary artery. Because of a spiral form of dissection and the TIMI 3 flow grade, our patient was treated medically and repeat coronary angiography 6 months later was decided.
Huge coronary perforation during percutaneous intervention sealed by injection of polyvinyl alcohol microspheres.
Politi, Luigi; Iaccarino, Daniele; Sangiorgi, Giuseppe M; Modena, Maria Grazia
During percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary perforation is one of the most feared life-threatening complications, as it may cause cardiac tamponade or acute myocardial infarction. The incidence of this serious complication in recent years has increased from 0.2 to 0.6%, most likely due to the increase of complex procedures. However, the management of coronary perforation has not been established yet. We report the first case of coronary perforation successfully managed with intracoronary injection of hydrogel microspheres.
Hydroxychloroquine, a promising choice for coronary artery disease?
Sun, Lizhe; Liu, Mengping; Li, Ruifeng; Zhao, Qiang; Liu, Junhui; Yang, Yanjie; Zhang, Lisha; Bai, Xiaofang; Wei, Yuanyuan; Ma, Qiangqiang; Zhou, Juan; Yuan, Zuyi; Wu, Yue
Coronary artery disease is a common disease that seriously threaten the health of more than 150 million people per year. Atherosclerosis is considered to be the main cause of coronary artery disease which begins with damage or injury to the inner layer of a coronary artery, sometimes as early as childhood. The damage may be caused by various factors, including: smoking, high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes and insulin resistance. Once a coronary artery disease has developed, all patients need to be treated with long term standard treatment, including heart-healthy lifestyle changes, medicines, and medical procedures or surgery. Hydroxychloroquine, an original antimalarial drug, prevents inflammation caused by lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. It is relatively safe and well-tolerated during the treatment. Since atherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis have resemble mechanism and increasing clinical researches confirm that hydroxychloroquine has an important role in both anti-rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular protection (such as anti-platelet, anti-thrombotic, lipid-regulating, anti-hypertension, hypoglycemia, and so on), we hypothesize that hydroxychloroquine might be a promising choice to coronary artery disease patients for its multiple benefits. PMID:27372847
Oxidative Stress-Dependent Coronary Endothelial Dysfunction in Obese Mice.
Gamez-Mendez, Ana María; Vargas-Robles, Hilda; Ríos, Amelia; Escalante, Bruno
Obesity is involved in several cardiovascular diseases including coronary artery disease and endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial Endothelium vasodilator and vasoconstrictor agonists play a key role in regulation of vascular tone. In this study, we evaluated coronary vascular response in an 8 weeks diet-induced obese C57BL/6 mice model. Coronary perfusion pressure in response to acetylcholine in isolated hearts from obese mice showed increased vasoconstriction and reduced vasodilation responses compared with control mice. Vascular nitric oxide assessed in situ with DAF-2 DA showed diminished levels in coronary arteries from obese mice in both basal and acetylcholine-stimulated conditions. Also, released prostacyclin was decreased in heart perfusates from obese mice, along with plasma tetrahydrobiopterin level and endothelium nitric oxide synthase dimer/monomer ratio. Obesity increased thromboxane A2 synthesis and oxidative stress evaluated by superoxide and peroxynitrite levels, compared with control mice. Obese mice treated with apocynin, a NADPH oxidase inhibitor, reversed all parameters to normal levels. These results suggest that after 8 weeks on a high-fat diet, the increase in oxidative stress lead to imbalance in vasoactive substances and consequently to endothelial dysfunction in coronary arteries.
Hybrid coronary artery revascularization: logistics and program development.
Friedrich, Guy J; Jonetzko, Patricja; Bonaros, Nikos; Schachner, Thomas; Danzmayr, Michael; Kofler, Ruth; Laufer, G; Pachinger, O; Bonatti, Johannes
Planning hybrid coronary artery revascularization--a combination of cardiac surgery with percutaneous procedures--requires, at first sight, a very complex logistical setup. Technical and equipment related details should be defined as early as possible in order to have time for training of all OR personnel involved. The most challenging aspect in OR-located hybrid coronary revascularization remains a very close cooperation of cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists. This teamwork does include indication findings and subsequent referral of multivessel coronary artery disease patients to hybrid procedures, as well as high individual flexibility of interventionalists and surgeons. The major prerequisite for this cooperation is a mutual acceptance of different revascularization approaches and the intent to combine their most striking advantages. Intraoperative graft angiography during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures is one important step toward simultaneous hybrid coronary revascularization procedures. We describe our experience with on table angiography using a mobile C-arm for intraoperative imaging. This fluoroscopy system can in selected cases be used for simultaneous hybrid procedures.
Obesity Related Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: From Basic to Clinical Practice
Selthofer-Relatić, K.; Bošnjak, I.; Kibel, A.
Obesity related coronary microvascular disease is a medical entity which is not yet fully elucidated. The pathophysiological basis of coronary microcirculatory dysfunction consists of a heterogeneous group of disorders with individual morphologic/functional/clinical presentation and prognosis. Coronary microcirculatory changes include mechanisms connected with vascular dysfunction, as well as extravascular and vasostructural changes in responses to neural, mechanical, and metabolic factors. Cardiometabolic changes that include obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension are associated with atherosclerosis of epicardial coronary arteries and/or microvascular coronary dysfunction, with incompletely understood underlying mechanisms. In obesity, microvascular disease is mediated via adipokines/cytokines causing chronic, subclinical inflammation with (a) reduced NO-mediated dilatation, (b) changed endothelial- and smooth muscle-dependent vasoregulating mechanisms, (c) altered vasomotor control with increased sympathetic activity, and (d) obesity related hypertension with cardiomyocytes hypertrophy and impaired cardiac vascular adaptation to metabolic needs. From a clinical point of view it can present itself in acute or chronic form with different prognosis, as a practice problem for real-life diagnosis and treatment. PMID:27092288
Coronary artery anomalies overview: The normal and the abnormal
Villa, Adriana DM; Sammut, Eva; Nair, Arjun; Rajani, Ronak; Bonamini, Rodolfo; Chiribiri, Amedeo
The aim of this review is to give a comprehensive and concise overview of coronary embryology and normal coronary anatomy, describe common variants of normal and summarize typical patterns of anomalous coronary artery anatomy. Extensive iconography supports the text, with particular attention to images obtained in vivo using non-invasive imaging. We have divided this article into three groups, according to their frequency in the general population: Normal, normal variant and anomaly. Although congenital coronary artery anomalies are relatively uncommon, they are the second most common cause of sudden cardiac death among young athletes and therefore warrant detailed review. Based on the functional relevance of each abnormality, coronary artery anomalies can be classified as anomalies with obligatory ischemia, without ischemia or with exceptional ischemia. The clinical symptoms may include chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, syncope, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death. Moreover, it is important to also identify variants and anomalies without clinical relevance in their own right as complications during surgery or angioplasty can occur. PMID:27358682
Secretory phospholipase A2 in patients with coronary artery disease.
Lima, Luciana Moreira; Carvalho, Maria das Graças; da Fonseca Neto, Cirilo Pereira; Garcia, José Carlos Faria; Sousa, Marinez Oliveira
This study investigated the correlation of sPLA2 (secretory phospholipase A2) activity with the atheromatosis extent in subjects with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing coronary angiography. We analyzed 123 patients, including 35 subjects with angiographically normal coronary arteries (controls), 31 with mild/moderate atheromatosis (stenosis of 30-70% of the luminal diameter in one or more coronary arteries) and 57 with severe atheromatosis (>70% stenosis). Plasma sPLA2 activity was significantly higher in subjects with severe [127.7 U/ml (102.3-162.7); p < 0.0001] and mild/moderate [112.0 U/ml (100.6-146.9); p < 0.0001] atheromatosis than in controls [19.8 U/ml (15.1-32.1)]. In a multiple logistic regression model, adjusted for age, gender, body mass index, tabagism, hypertension, sedentarism, family history for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, total cholesterol, HDLc, LDLc, triglycerides, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and phospholipase A2, only sPLA2 was observed to be independently associated with severe CAD (>70% of stenosis) (p < 0.0001). PMID:19449149
Unroofed coronary sinus in a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1
Bender, Luciano Pereira; Meyer, Maria Rita F.; Rosa, Rafael Fabiano M.; Rosa, Rosana Cardoso M.; Trevisan, Patrícia; Zen, Paulo Ricardo G.
OBJECTIVE: To report the uncommon association between neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and unroofed coronary sinus. CASE DESCRIPTION: Girl with four years and six months old who was hospitalized for heart surgery. The cardiac problem was discovered at four months of life. On physical examination, the patient presented several café-au-lait spots in the trunk and the limbs and freckling of the axillary and groin regions. Her father had similar skin findings, suggesting the NF1 diagnosis. The cardiac evaluation by echocardiography disclosed an atrial septal defect of unroofed coronary sinus type. This cardiac finding was confirmed at surgery. The procedure consisted of the atrial septal defect repair with autologous pericardium. COMMENTS: NF1 is a common autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. Among the NF1 findings, congenital heart defects are considered unusual. In the literature review, there was no association between NF1 and unroofed coronary sinus, which is a rare cardiac malformation, characterized by a communication between the coronary sinus and the left atrium, resultant from the partial or total absence of the coronary sinus roof. It represents less than 1% of atrial septal defect cases. More reports are important to determine if this association is real or merely casual, since NF1 is a common condition. PMID:24473962
[Treatment of hypertension in patients with coronary arterial disease].
Rosas-Peralta, Martín; Borrayo-Sánchez, Gabriela; Madrid-Miller, Alejandra; Ramírez-Arias, Erick; Pérez-Rodríguez, Gilberto
Reports of randomized controlled trials and prospective observational studies provide the most reliable data on the association between blood pressure and coronary heart disease (CHD). The totality of the evidence indicate a strong association between blood pressure and coronary heart disease, which is continuous at levels of less than 115 mm Hg of systolic. In general, 60 to 69 years of age, 10 lower mm Hg systolic blood pressure is associated with lower risk of one-fifth of a coronary heart disease event. The size and shape of this Association are consistent in all regions, for men and women and life-threatening events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Trials that compared active treatment with placebo or no treatment have shown that the benefits of reducing blood pressure with different classes of drugs (e.g., diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists) are quite similar, with about a fifth of reduction in coronary heart disease. The important points in this review are: First, that the relative benefit to the decline in blood pressure for the prevention of coronary heart disease appears to be constant in a range of different populations. Second, it is likely that considerable benefit with blood pressure low below thresholds of "traditional" blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg), especially in those with high absolute risk. Third, start, reduce with caution -especially in adult- and keep the maximum tolerance of blood pressure reduction is an issue more important than the choice of the initial agent. PMID:27428346
[Treatment of hypertension in patients with coronary arterial disease].
Rosas-Peralta, Martín; Borrayo-Sánchez, Gabriela; Madrid-Miller, Alejandra; Ramírez-Arias, Erick; Pérez-Rodríguez, Gilberto
Reports of randomized controlled trials and prospective observational studies provide the most reliable data on the association between blood pressure and coronary heart disease (CHD). The totality of the evidence indicate a strong association between blood pressure and coronary heart disease, which is continuous at levels of less than 115 mm Hg of systolic. In general, 60 to 69 years of age, 10 lower mm Hg systolic blood pressure is associated with lower risk of one-fifth of a coronary heart disease event. The size and shape of this Association are consistent in all regions, for men and women and life-threatening events such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Trials that compared active treatment with placebo or no treatment have shown that the benefits of reducing blood pressure with different classes of drugs (e.g., diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists) are quite similar, with about a fifth of reduction in coronary heart disease. The important points in this review are: First, that the relative benefit to the decline in blood pressure for the prevention of coronary heart disease appears to be constant in a range of different populations. Second, it is likely that considerable benefit with blood pressure low below thresholds of "traditional" blood pressure (140/90 mm Hg), especially in those with high absolute risk. Third, start, reduce with caution -especially in adult- and keep the maximum tolerance of blood pressure reduction is an issue more important than the choice of the initial agent.
The Prognosis of Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease Versus Normal Arteries Determined by Invasive Coronary Angiography or Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography: A Systematic Review.
Huang, Fang-Yang; Huang, Bao-Tao; Lv, Wen-Yu; Liu, Wei; Peng, Yong; Xia, Tian-Li; Wang, Peng-Ju; Zuo, Zhi-Liang; Liu, Rui-Shuang; Zhang, Chen; Gui, Yi-Yue; Liao, Yan-Biao; Chen, Mao; Zhu, Ye
Limited data exist regarding the outcomes of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) detected by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) or invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Our aim was to compare the prognosis of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery plaques with that of patients with entirely normal arteries. The MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched. Studies comparing the prognosis of individuals with nonobstructive CAD versus normal coronary arteries detected by CTCA or ICA were included. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization due to unstable angina or revascularization. A fixed effects model was chosen to pool the estimates of odds ratios (ORs). Forty-eight studies with 64,905 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Patients in the nonobstructive CAD arm had a significantly higher risk of MACE compared to their counterparts in the normal artery arm (pooled OR, 3.17, 95% confidence interval, 2.77-3.63). When excluding revascularization as an endpoint, hard cardiac composite outcomes were also more frequent among patients with nonobstructive CAD (pooled OR, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.79-2.45). All subgroups (age, sex, follow-up duration, different outcomes, diagnostic modality, and CAD risk factor) consistently showed a poorer prognosis with nonobstructive CAD than with normal arteries. When dividing the studies into a CTCA and ICA group for further analysis based on the indications for diagnostic tests, we also found nonobstructive CAD to be associated with a higher risk of MACE in both stable and acute chest pain. Patients with nonobstructive CAD had a poorer prognosis compared with their counterparts with normal arteries.
The Prognosis of Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease Versus Normal Arteries Determined by Invasive Coronary Angiography or Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography
Huang, Fang-Yang; Huang, Bao-Tao; Lv, Wen-Yu; Liu, Wei; Peng, Yong; Xia, Tian-Li; Wang, Peng-Ju; Zuo, Zhi-Liang; Liu, Rui-Shuang; Zhang, Chen; Gui, Yi-Yue; Liao, Yan-Biao; Chen, Mao; Zhu, Ye
Abstract Limited data exist regarding the outcomes of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) detected by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) or invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Our aim was to compare the prognosis of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery plaques with that of patients with entirely normal arteries. The MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched. Studies comparing the prognosis of individuals with nonobstructive CAD versus normal coronary arteries detected by CTCA or ICA were included. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization due to unstable angina or revascularization. A fixed effects model was chosen to pool the estimates of odds ratios (ORs). Forty-eight studies with 64,905 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Patients in the nonobstructive CAD arm had a significantly higher risk of MACE compared to their counterparts in the normal artery arm (pooled OR, 3.17, 95% confidence interval, 2.77–3.63). When excluding revascularization as an endpoint, hard cardiac composite outcomes were also more frequent among patients with nonobstructive CAD (pooled OR, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.79–2.45). All subgroups (age, sex, follow-up duration, different outcomes, diagnostic modality, and CAD risk factor) consistently showed a poorer prognosis with nonobstructive CAD than with normal arteries. When dividing the studies into a CTCA and ICA group for further analysis based on the indications for diagnostic tests, we also found nonobstructive CAD to be associated with a higher risk of MACE in both stable and acute chest pain. Patients with nonobstructive CAD had a poorer prognosis compared with their counterparts with normal arteries. PMID:26986161
The Prognosis of Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease Versus Normal Arteries Determined by Invasive Coronary Angiography or Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography: A Systematic Review.
Huang, Fang-Yang; Huang, Bao-Tao; Lv, Wen-Yu; Liu, Wei; Peng, Yong; Xia, Tian-Li; Wang, Peng-Ju; Zuo, Zhi-Liang; Liu, Rui-Shuang; Zhang, Chen; Gui, Yi-Yue; Liao, Yan-Biao; Chen, Mao; Zhu, Ye
Limited data exist regarding the outcomes of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) detected by computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) or invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Our aim was to compare the prognosis of patients with nonobstructive coronary artery plaques with that of patients with entirely normal arteries. The MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases were searched. Studies comparing the prognosis of individuals with nonobstructive CAD versus normal coronary arteries detected by CTCA or ICA were included. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization due to unstable angina or revascularization. A fixed effects model was chosen to pool the estimates of odds ratios (ORs). Forty-eight studies with 64,905 individuals met the inclusion criteria. Patients in the nonobstructive CAD arm had a significantly higher risk of MACE compared to their counterparts in the normal artery arm (pooled OR, 3.17, 95% confidence interval, 2.77-3.63). When excluding revascularization as an endpoint, hard cardiac composite outcomes were also more frequent among patients with nonobstructive CAD (pooled OR, 2.10; 95%CI, 1.79-2.45). All subgroups (age, sex, follow-up duration, different outcomes, diagnostic modality, and CAD risk factor) consistently showed a poorer prognosis with nonobstructive CAD than with normal arteries. When dividing the studies into a CTCA and ICA group for further analysis based on the indications for diagnostic tests, we also found nonobstructive CAD to be associated with a higher risk of MACE in both stable and acute chest pain. Patients with nonobstructive CAD had a poorer prognosis compared with their counterparts with normal arteries. PMID:26986161
(F)Utility of invasive haemodynamic measurements to guide percutaneous intervention in chronic coronary artery disease.
Seiler, Christian
Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in chronic stable coronary artery disease has not been shown to reduce the incidence of myocardial infarction or death. There is, however, evidence that the outcome from PCI is dependent on the amount of myocardial ischaemia. This review provides an overview of coronary circulatory pathophysiology and focuses on fractional flow reserve from a semantical, conceptual and practical point of view.
Association between metabolic syndrome and subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic adults.
Kullo, Iftikhar J; Cassidy, Andrea E; Peyser, Patricia A; Turner, Stephen T; Sheedy, Patrick F; Bielak, Lawrence F
Metabolic syndrome was associated with the presence and quantity of coronary artery calcium, a marker of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis, in 1,129 asymptomatic adults, ages 20 to 79 years, from a community-based study. The association was independent of 10-year risk of coronary heart disease based on the Framingham risk score.
Signs and Symptoms of Artery Disease | Coronary Artery Disease | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine
... this page please turn Javascript on. Feature: Coronary Artery Disease Signs and Symptoms of Artery Disease Past Issues / Fall 2010 Table of Contents ... this depends on which arteries are affected. Coronary Arteries Coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the ...
Giant aneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery in a pediatric patient with Behcet's disease.
Cook, Amanda L; Rouster-Stevens, Kelly; Williams, Derek A; Hines, Michael H
Behcet's disease is a rare autoimmune vasculitis characterized by oral aphthosis, genital ulcers, and ocular and cutaneous lesions. Vascular involvement usually affects the veins more commonly than the arteries, and coronary arterial involvement is extremely rare. We report an adolescent with Behcet's disease who developed a large pseudoaneurysm of the left anterior descending coronary artery requiring a coronary arterial bypass graft.
Contribution of cardiovascular magnetic resonance in the evaluation of coronary arteries
Mavrogeni, Sophie; Markousis-Mavrogenis, George; Kolovou, Genovefa
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows the nonradiating assessment of coronary arteries; to achieve better image quality cardiorespiratory artefacts should be corrected. Coronary MRA (CMRA) at the moment is indicated only for the detection of abnormal coronary origin, coronary artery ectasia and/or aneurysms (class I indication) and coronary bypass grafts (class II indication). CMRA utilisation for coronary artery disease is not yet part of clinical routine. However, the lack of radiation is of special value for the coronary artery evaluation in children and women. CMRA can assess the proximal part of coronary arteries in almost all cases. The best results have been observed in the evaluation of the left anterior descending and the right coronary artery, while the left circumflex, which is located far away from the coil elements, is frequently imaged with reduced quality, compared to the other two. Different studies detected an increase in wall thickness of the coronaries in patients with type I diabetes and abnormal renal function. Additionally, the non-contrast enhanced T1-weighed images detected the presence of thrombus in acute myocardial infarction. New techniques using delayed gadolinium enhanced imaging promise the direct visualization of inflamed plaques in the coronary arteries. The major advantage of CMR is the potential of an integrated protocol offering assessment of coronary artery anatomy, cardiac function, inflammation and stress perfusion-fibrosis in the same study, providing an individualized clinical profile of patients with heart disease. PMID:25349650
Experimental coronary sclerosis induced by immobilization of rabbits: A new model of arteriosclerosis
NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
Tyavokin, V. V.; Tjawokin, W. W.
A new method for producing arteriosclerosis with coronary insufficiency in rabbits by means of immobilization is described and discussed. The experimentally induced atherosclerosis develops due to hypodynamics imposed by the reduced muscular activity without overloading with exogenous cholesterol. The atherosclerosis and coronary insufficiency are associated. With variations in the duration and extent of immobilization, coronary insufficiency alone or with atherosclerosis can be produced.
Induced coronary spasm without electrocardiographic signs or symptoms of myocardial ischemia
Cipriano, P.R.
Angiographic studies have shown that coronary artery spasm can be induced with ergonovine maleate. Coronary artery spasm induced by ergonovine maleate in these studies was nearly always accompanied by chest pain and electrocardiographic changes of myocardial ischemia. This report demonstrates that coronary artery spasm induced by ergonovine maleate may be diagnosed by angiography in the absence of these signs or symptoms.
Surgery for anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left aortic sinus.
Rogers, Selwyn O; Leacche, Marzia; Mihaljevic, Tomislav; Rawn, James D; Byrne, John G
This case report illustrates the presentation, diagnosis, and surgical management of an anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus in a young adult in whom the right coronary artery was reimplanted directly onto the aorta, rather than bypassed, as is typically done.
Prognostic significance of coronary sinus filling time in patients with angina and normal coronaries at one year follow up
Kadermuneer, P.; Vinod, G.V.; Haridasan, V.; Rajesh, G.; Sajeev, C.G.; Bastion, Cicy; Vinayakumar, D.; Mathew, Dolly; George, Biju; Krishnan, M.N.
Background Coronary sinus filling time (CSFT) has been proposed as a simple method for assessment of coronary microvascular function in patients with angina and normal coronaries. But its correlation with inducible ischemia and prognostic significance in predicting future cardiovascular events has not been studied. The present study assessed the prognostic significance of CSFT during one year of follow up. Methods We compared coronary sinus filling time of patients with angina and normal coronaries with that of control population. Control group was formed by those patients with supraventricular arrhythmia undergoing radiofrequency ablation and having normal coronaries. Baseline treadmill test (TMT) parameters like workload, duration and Duke Score were assessed. Patients were followed up for one year and a composite of cardiovascular mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction was analyzed. Number of patients presenting to emergency or outpatient department with recurrent chest pain symptoms during one year follow up was considered for secondary outcome analysis. Coronary sinus filling time was analyzed with respect to cardiovascular events, repeat hospitalization for recurrent angina and TMT parameters. Results Total 72 patients and 16 controls were studied. Mean CSFT value in the study group was 5.31 ± 1.03 sec and in the control group was 4.16 ± 0.72 sec and the difference was significant (p value = 0.0001). No correlation was found between baseline and repeat TMT parameters with CSFT. There was no cardiovascular mortality or hospitalization for non-fatal MI during one year follow up. But patients with frequent emergency or outpatient department visits with chest pain had a high CSFT compared with asymptomatic patients (p value = 0.005). Conclusion Coronary sinus filling time may be used as a simple marker of microvascular dysfunction in patients with angina and normal coronaries. Patients with recurrent chest pain symptoms after one year follow up
Coronary endarterectomy in left anterior descending artery combined with coronary artery bypass grafting – midterm mortality and morbidity
Domaradzki, Wojciech; Krauze, Jolanta; Kinasz, Leszek; Jankowska-Sanetra, Justyna; Świątkiewicz, Małgorzata; Paradowski, Krzysztof; Cisowski, Marek
Introduction Completeness of myocardial revascularization is essential in surgical treatment of coronary artery disease. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of coronary endarterectomy as an adjunct to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the most difficult cases. Material and methods Among 1559 patients who had CABG in our department, the cases of 17 who underwent an adjunct left anterior descending endarterectomy were analyzed. All procedures were performed with median sternotomy, extracorporeal circulation and in mild hypothermia (34°C), by the same surgeon. No coronary artery endarterectomy was planned before surgery. Results There was no infarction or cardiac arrest during hospitalization. Only one patient required mechanical circulatory support (intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation). Each patient was contacted and investigation for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was performed. Eleven patients (65%) already underwent midterm clinical evaluation. There was no death, myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular incident during the entire period (mean follow-up at 15.3 months). One patient required urgent coronarography due to chest pain. No other patient had chest pain or significant deterioration of ventricular function in echocardiography. Conclusions Outcomes and potential indications for performing left anterior descending coronary endarterectomy as an adjunct to CABG are discussed. PMID:26855644
Facial nerve palsy, Kawasaki disease, and coronary artery aneurysm.
Stowe, Robert C
Kawasaki disease is rarely complicated by cranial nerve VII palsy. This report describes a 15-month-old female presenting with 3 days of fever, irritability, and rash who was subsequently diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. She was found to have mild coronary artery ectasia and developed an acute, transient, left-sided facial palsy on the sixth day of illness. Repeat echocardiography demonstrated worsening aneurysm and intravenous methylprednisolone was added to her treatment regimen. At 1 and 3 months post-discharge, echocardiography demonstrated resolution of her coronary aneurysm. This case makes 41 total described in the literature. Patients tend to be under 12-months-old and there is a higher association with coronary artery aneurysm in such patients compared to those without facial palsy who never even received treatment. Kawasaki disease associated with facial palsy may indicate increased inflammatory burden and patients may require additional anti-inflammatory agents and more vigilant echocardiography. PMID:26101056
Bypass graft imaging and coronary anomalies in MDCT.
Fernandez, Gabriel C
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is used to restore the blood flow in an ischemic area of myocardium using conduits bypassing a diseased coronary artery. Until now, conventional angiography has been the recognized technique to study patients with bypass grafts. Nowadays, non-invasive methods such as multi-detector CT (MDCT) emerge as reliable imaging methods in the study of CABG. Thus, radiologists play an important role in this field, not only to define if the bypass graft is occluded or stenosed but also to report further information such as CABG technique performed, type of conduit used or pre-operative findings. This paper analyzes the most practical information that the radiologist must know in a study of CABG. Another theme which will be briefly described is the use of MDCT in coronary anomalies studies, with particular emphasis on the course of the abnormal vessel and its relation to great vessels. PMID:15801059
Facial nerve palsy, Kawasaki disease, and coronary artery aneurysm.
Stowe, Robert C
Kawasaki disease is rarely complicated by cranial nerve VII palsy. This report describes a 15-month-old female presenting with 3 days of fever, irritability, and rash who was subsequently diagnosed with Kawasaki disease and treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. She was found to have mild coronary artery ectasia and developed an acute, transient, left-sided facial palsy on the sixth day of illness. Repeat echocardiography demonstrated worsening aneurysm and intravenous methylprednisolone was added to her treatment regimen. At 1 and 3 months post-discharge, echocardiography demonstrated resolution of her coronary aneurysm. This case makes 41 total described in the literature. Patients tend to be under 12-months-old and there is a higher association with coronary artery aneurysm in such patients compared to those without facial palsy who never even received treatment. Kawasaki disease associated with facial palsy may indicate increased inflammatory burden and patients may require additional anti-inflammatory agents and more vigilant echocardiography.
Left atrial myxoma associated with obstructive coronary artery disease.
Gismondi, Ronaldo Altenburg Odebrecht Curi; Kaufman, Renato; Correa, Gabriel Angelo de Cata Preta; Nascimento, César; Weitzel, Luiz Henrique; Reis, José Oscar Brito; da Rocha, Antônio Sérgio Cordeiro; da Cunha, Ademir Batista
We describe a case of a 67 year-old patient with obstructive coronary artery disease that, in the preoperative survey for inguinal herniorraphy surgery, discovered, by a two-dimensional echocardiogram, a tumor in left atrium, mobile, non-obstructive. The patient underwent a cineangiocoronariography showing severe stenosis in the left anterior descending artery, moderate stenosis in the left circumflex artery, near the origin of the first marginal branch, and a non-obstructive plaque in the right coronary artery. There was also moderate left ventricular dysfunction. After that, the patient has gone coronary artery bypass surgery and resection of the left atrial tumor. The histological exam revealed that the tumor was, in fact, a myxoma. PMID:17364102
The Coronary Circulation as a Target of Cardioprotection.
Heusch, Gerd
The atherosclerotic coronary vasculature is not only the culprit but also a victim of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Manifestations of such injury are increased vascular permeability and edema, endothelial dysfunction and impaired vasomotion, microembolization of atherothrombotic debris, stasis with intravascular cell aggregates, and finally, in its most severe form, capillary destruction with hemorrhage. In animal experiments, local and remote ischemic pre- and postconditioning not only reduce infarct size but also these manifestations of coronary vascular injury, as do drugs which recruit signal transduction steps of conditioning. Clinically, no-reflow is frequently seen after interventional reperfusion, and it carries an adverse prognosis. The translation of cardioprotective interventions to clinical practice has been difficult to date. Only 4 drugs (brain natriuretic peptide, exenatide, metoprolol, and esmolol) stand unchallenged to date in reducing infarct size in patients with reperfused acute myocardial infarction; unfortunately, for these drugs, no information on their impact on the ischemic/reperfused coronary circulation is available. PMID:27174955