[Spontaneous dissection of the common trunk and principal branches of the left coronary arterial system. Apropos of a case].

The authors report the case of a 45 year old woman presenting with inaugural anterior myocardial infarction due to spontaneous dissection of the left main and principal branches of the left coronary arterial system. Two attempts of thrombolysis at a one hour interval were made within 6 hours of the onset of symptoms with signs of reperfusion but the ECG and echocardiography showed anterolateral myocardial infarction. A recurrence of chest pain on the fifth day led to emergency coronary angiography.

[Cardiac rhabdomyoma in the adult. Echocardiographic diagnosis and successful surgical treatment].

Cardiac rhabdomyoma is a rare tumour (190 cases in the literature). Since the first operation, in 1959, the tumour has been removed in about 30 patients. Our case is the first cardiac rhabdomyoma diagnosed in live adults.

[Parietal rupture of the heart in the acute phase of a postero-inferior myocardial infarction. Echocardiographic diagnosis, surgical cure].

A 58 year old patient with no previous cardiac history developed a postero-inferior myocardial infarction, complicated at the 6th hour by parietal rupture leading to acute tamponade. This was diagnosed by echocardiography which showed a compressive pericardial effusion containing large thrombi. Surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass was successful and led to good quality survival, maintained for over 6 months.

[Suspension of the heart during aortocoronary bypass. A simplified technic].

A technique for suspending the heart, thereby facilitating exposure of the coronary arteries, is described. In this perfectly simple and safe technique, the heart is suspended by a gauze compress passed behind the inferior vena cava and forming a sling.