Microvascular coronary flow comparison in acute myocardial infarction angioplasty treated with a mesh covered stent (MGUARD stent) versus bare metal stent: MICAMI-MGUARD.

Background: Distal embolization of thrombus/platelet aggregates decreases myocardial reperfusion during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and is associated with worse immediate and long-term prognosis of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objective: Assess the efficacy of a mesh covered stent (MGuard™ stent, MGS) in preventing distal embolization and microvascular reperfusion impairment during primary PCI, compared with a bare metal stent (BMS).

Methods: Forty patients with STEMI referred for primary PCI were randomized for stenting the culprit lesion with the MGS (n = 20) or a BMS (n = 20).

[Long term follow up of patients consulting in a Chest Pain Unit].

Background: chest pain (CT) constitutes an important cause of consultation and diagnostic dilemma in the emergency room, especially due to the possible presence of coronary disease. Its presentation, diagnosis and prognosis are different between men and women.

Aim: to report a follow-up of patients attended at a Chest Pain Unit (CPU), evaluating gender differences.

Decreased nitric oxide products in the urine of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objective: Renal vasoconstriction has been blamed as a cause of perioperative renal dysfunction after cardiac surgery. Endothelial function is a critical determinant of vascular tonus, including vasoconstriction. The objective of this study was to establish whether the release of the endothelial vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) or NO products is altered in patients undergoing surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in 3 different clinical conditions.

[Chest pain unit: first experience in Chile].

Background: In large series, nearly 60% of admissions for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS) had a non-coronary etiology of the pain. However, short term mortality of non recognized ACS patients, mistakenly discharged from the emergency room is at least twice greater than the expected if they would had been admitted. The concept of a chest pain unit (CPU) is a methodological approach developed to address these issues.

[Permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with persistent left superior vena cava and absent right superior vena cava. Report of three cases].

Persistent left superior vena cava and absent right superior vena cava is an uncommon anatomical association. This is a challenging situation for permanent pacemaker implantation. We report three patients with this anomaly and a permanent pacemaker successfully implanted through the left superior vena cava and coronary sinus, without acute or chronic complications.