[Coronary recanalization by transluminal angioplasty in the acute phase of myocardial infarct].

Recanalization by transluminal coronary angioplasty (TCA) was attempted as the first measure in 41 patients having symptoms for less than 4h. The obstruction could rapidly be removed (between 14 and 50 min) in 38 patients (92%). Five patients (12%) died: one in shock at the end of the operation, two died on the 5th and 8th postoperative day and two from heart failure on the 8th and 15th postoperative day.

[Prognostic indices of the normalization of left ventricular function in chronic aortic insufficiency following valve replacement].

The aim of this study of 31 patients was to identify M mode echocardiographic parameters predictive of normalisation of left ventricular function after valvular replacement for chronic aortic incompetence in order to determine the optimal time for surgery. Only patients with chronic, pure aortic incompetence (ventriculo-aortic pressure gradient less than or equal to 30 mmHG) were considered. At the time of investigation 4 patients were in functional Class I, 6 in Class II, 10 in Class III and 11 in Class IV (NYHA).

Complete patency in thrombus-occluded arteries two weeks after laser recanalization.

The potential problem of rethrombosis after laser recanalization was studied in 16 thrombus-occluded canine femoral arteries. Balloon de-endothelialization and thrombin-human blood injection produced adherent, completely occlusive thrombi 4.13 +/- 1.