Surgical management of post-infarction leaking left ventricular false aneurysm.

A case report of leaking left ventricular false aneurysm causing pericardial tamponade treated by surgical resection of the false aneurysm and coronary bypass surgery is presented including a description of the intraoperative technique for demonstration of the false aneurysm and the communicating channel to the left ventricular chamber.

The use of rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography in risk stratification in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

The study examined the value of rest and exercise radionuclide ventriculography in risk stratification in patients with suspected coronary artery disease. There were 604 patients, 474 men and 130 women, aged 55 +/- 11 years (mean +/- standard deviation). At a follow-up of 18 +/- 10 months, there were 43 hard cardiac events: 27 patients died of cardiac causes and 16 had nonfatal acute myocardial infarctions.

Forward ejection fraction: a new index of left ventricular function in mitral regurgitation.

Previous studies have shown that a normal LVEF is not a reliable index of LV function in MR. We hypothesized that the forward EF, which is the forward stroke volume (measured by Fick or thermodilution) divided by end-diastolic volume (measured by contrast ventriculography) may be a useful index of LV function, since it represents LV emptying into the aorta. This index was examined in 54 patients with chronic MR who had normal EF (greater than or equal to 50%).

Improved pacemaker fixation and performance using a modified finned porous surfaced tip lead.

A simple method was used to modify the tip of a porous surfaced finned pacemaker lead. Comparison between the modified and the unmodified pacemaker electrodes was carried out in experimental animals and in humans. The incidence of early lead dislodgement, acute trapping and pacing thresholds was recorded.

Clinical and echocardiographic evaluation of the St. Jude cardiac valve prosthesis: follow-up of 126 patients.

One hundred twenty-six patients with a St. Jude valve prosthesis were followed up clinically and studied by combined M-mode echocardiography and phonocardiography. Fifty patients underwent aortic valve replacement, 58 underwent mitral valve replacement and 18 underwent a combination of the two.