[Primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction. A one-year experience in a small urban community].

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction in a cardiology centre of a small urban community without on-site cardiac surgery. During 1995, 50 patients underwent angioplasty for MI in the first 12 hours. The average age was 66.

[Value of early stress test during treatment after myocardial infarction with Q wave in patients under 55 years of age].

We studied one hundred consecutive patients, under the age of 55 years (mean age: 45.6 years), with myocardial infarction and a Q wave, in order to assess the prognostic value of an early stress test. Thirty five patients were excluded: 2 deaths, 21 revascularizations during the acute phase, 4 tests were performed without treatment, 6 tests were unable to be performed and 2 patients left hospital against medical advice.

[Anterior mediastinal cyst disclosed by protracted thoracic pain].

The authors report a case of anterior mediastinal cyst discovered incidentally in a 71-year-old man presenting with prolonged chest pain and a history of chronic renal failure secondary to polycystic kidney disease. The diagnosis of these cysts, which are benign congenital tumours usually asymptomatic and with a favourable course, was established by thoracic CT. In difficult cases, magnetic resonance imaging allows precise analysis of pericardial masses.

[Partial pulmonary embolectomy without extracorporeal circulation. Apropos of a case].

The authors report a case of massive pulmonary embolism compromising the haemodynamic status of a 52 year old man with a formal contraindication to thrombolytic therapy. Unilateral pulmonary embolectomy was performed without cardiac pulmonary bypass, preceded by partial interruption of the inferior vena cava. Postoperative controls confirmed the success of the surgical procedure.

[Contribution of transesophageal echocardiography to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism].

Between September 1992 and August 1993 transoesophageal echocardiography was undertaken in 30 patients with clinical and scintigraphic signs of pulmonary embolism. The diagnosis was confirmed by pulmonary angiography (1 patient had failure of venous puncture; 1 patient refused the investigation). The aim of this study was to assess the tolerance and to determine the diagnostic value of transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE).