Anomalous origin of right coronary artery originating from the proximal part of the left anterior descending artery via a collateral.

The incidence of anomalous coronary artery is approximatly 1% in patients who undergo coronary angiography. These anomalies, together with congenital heart disease, may cause myocardial ischemia, decreased life expectancy and sudden death. The case of a patient with a rare anomalous right coronary artery (RCA) from the very proximal part of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery via a collateral, aberrant vessel is described.

Assessment of left ventricular function and Tei index by tissue Doppler imaging in patients with slow coronary flow.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess left ventricular (LV) function and the Tei index by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and also to evaluate the relationship of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (TFC) with the Tei index and LV function in patients with slow coronary flow (SCF).

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 50 patients with SCF and 27 control subjects. Diagnosis of SCF was made by TFC.

Effect of carbon dioxide insufflation on free internal thoracic artery flows: is it a vasodilator?

Background: This study was conceived to evaluate the effect of carbon dioxide insufflation on free internal thoracic artery flows.

Methods: We studied 56 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting in which the left internal thoracic artery was anastomosed to the left anterior descending artery. The first 26 consecutive internal thoracic arteries were harvested as a pedicled graft (group 1), and the next 30 consecutive internal thoracic arteries were dissected by using the carbon dioxide insufflation technique (group 2).