Coronary aorto-ostial stenosis analysed by multislice computed tomography: a new tool for percutaneous coronary intervention?

Aims: Conventional quantitative coronary angiography approaches are limited to quantify complex aorto-ostial stenosis. Multislice CT was able to detect and classify coronary plaques, compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). The aim of the present study was to determine the accuracy of multislice computed tomography (CT) in addition to conventional angiography to identify aorto-ostial coronary stenosis characteristics before revascularisation.

Reduction in spasm with a long hydrophylic transradial sheath.

Objectives: We aimed to assess the efficiency of a long hydrophilic sheath in reducing radial spasm for transradial approach.

Background: Despite a lower access site complication rate, cardiac catheterization using transradial approach is not widely used. Radial spasm is one of the main issues for transradial angiography and percutaneous interventions.

Non-invasive detection of coronary artery disease in patients with left bundle branch block using 64-slice computed tomography.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of 64-slice computed tomography (CT) to identify coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with complete left bundle branch block (LBBB).

Background: Left bundle branch block increases risk of cardiac mortality, and prognosis is primarily determined by the underlying coronary disease. Non-invasive stress tests have limited performance, and conventional coronary angiography (CCA) is usually required.

Comparison of coronary minimal lumen area quantification by sixty-four-slice computed tomography versus intravascular ultrasound for intermediate stenosis.

The present study assessed 64-slice computed tomographic accuracy to quantify minimal lumen area (MLA) and determine lesion severity in intermediate stenosis by angiography compared with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Sixty-four-slice computed tomography (CT) has been shown to be effective in coronary stenotic assessment by visual estimation compared with angiography. However, angiography is not an accurate gold standard for intermediate stenotic quantification compared with IVUS.

Transient left ventricular basal dysfunction without coronary stenosis in acute cerebral disorders: a novel heart syndrome (inverted Takotsubo).

Myocardial dysfunction without coronary involvement may occur in acute cerebral diseases. We report 4 cases where, in the context of acute cerebral disorder, the echocardiograms revealed an extensive left ventricular circumferential akinesis except at the apex. Besides, for three of those cases no coronary disease has been highlighted.

Transcatheter closure of traumatic ventricular septal defect: an alternative to surgery.

The incidence of ventricular septal defect (VSD) occurs in up to 4.5% of penetrating cardiac trauma. We report a patient with persistent VSD who underwent surgical repair with significant left-to-right shunt and signs of heart failure.