[Calculation of the regurgitation fraction in mitral insufficiency by Doppler echocardiography using a study of the zone of flow convergence].

The aim of this study was to propose a new method for calculating the regurgitation fraction of mitral insufficiency by the proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method and to compare it with the value of the catheter regurgitation fraction. Thirty-five patients (21 men and 14 women) aged 59 +/- 13 years with isolated mitral insufficiency were studied. Analysis of the proximal isovelocity surface area enabled calculation of an instantaneous maximum regurgitant flow, surface of the regurgitant orifice and the regurgitant volume.

[Myocardial infarction caused by thrombosis of the left coronary artery in a patient with thrombocythemia].

Myocardial infarction is not exceptional in patients with essential thrombocythaemia. This infarction is often related to the formation of in situ coronary thrombosis with no associated atheromatous lesions. The authors report the case of a thrombocythaemic patient with anterior infarction due to thrombosis of the left coronary artery.

Echocardiographic demonstration of intracardiac glue after endoscopic obturation of gastroesophageal varices.

Systemic embolism is an unusual complication of endoscopic obturation of gastroesophageal varices with glue. This report describes a case of cerebral embolism after this procedure. Intracardiac glue within the left atrium was demonstrated by echocardiography.

[Left ventricular dilatation after primary transmural anterior myocardial infarction. Influence of the percentage of akinesia on echocardiography].

The aim of this study was to determine whether the percentage of akinesia on echocardiography during the acute phase of transmural anterior myocardial infarction could predict secondary left ventricular dilatation. The study group comprised 24 patients (18 men and 6 women) with an average age of 59 years. The patients underwent two echocardiographic examinations, the first during the acute (< 72 hours) phase and the second, 6 months later.

[Myocardial bridge of the left anterior descending coronary artery and myocardial infarction: does coronary spasm play a part?].

The association of a myocardial bridge of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and myocardial infarction is rare. The mechanisms by which the myocardial bridge could predispose to myocardial infarction are tachycardia (reducing the duration of diastolic coronary filling), thrombosis at the site of the myocardial bridge, and coronary spasm which, however, has never been demonstrated in the context of infarction. The aim of this study was to detect coronary spasm by provocative ergometrine testing in 4 patients, all male, aged 21 to 49 years, average 39 years old, who had anterior myocardial infarction associated with myocardial bridging of the LAD artery without atheromatous coronary stenosis.