[Skeletal muscle efficiency in heart failure].

Heart failure is associated with modifications of skeletal muscle cells, which could participate in the exercise limitation of the patients. However, the mechanical efficiency of the skeletal muscle has not been fully evaluated in these patients. We therefore measured VO2 during prolonged exercise (15 min) at constant load to obtain stable conditions.

Subxiphoid pericardiocentesis guided by contrast two-dimensional echocardiography in cardiac tamponade: experience of 110 consecutive patients.

Aims: We evaluated echo-guided pericardiocentesis with contrast study in cardiac tamponade management.

Patients And Methods: From 1982 to 1998 we performed pericardiocentesis in 110 patients (56 +/- 14 years old). Subxiphoid approach was used in 109.

Aneurysms of saphenous vein grafts as late complication of coronary artery bypass surgery: successful exclusion by percutaneous transcatheter embolization.

We report a case of a 71-year-old man with a long coronary artery disease history and two sets of coronary artery bypass grafts. He developed large aortocoronary saphenous vein graft aneurysms in the two grafts from the first set of aortocoronary saphenous venous 20 years later. During the previous 3 years, the aneurysms grew in diameter from 22 to 50 mm.

[Aortic dissection at 6 months gestation in a women with Marfan's syndrome. Simultaneous Bentall intervention and cesarean section].

A 31 year old woman with Marfan's syndrome had a dilatation of the aortic root (55-60 mm at the beginning of pregnancy). Pregnancy was continued with beta-blocker therapy and with regular echocardiographic follow-up. The aortic dilatation increased (62-65 mm) at the last control and, at the 34th week of pregnancy, the patient suffered a dissection of the ascending aorta.

Diagnosis of saphenous coronary graft aneurysm by spiral computed tomography.

We report two cases of coronary saphenous vein graft aneurysms diagnosed by spiral computed tomography.