Contrast-echocardiography: confirmation of patency of laser channels after transmyocardial laser revascularization.

Aims: Apart from casuistic autopsy results there is no long-term evidence for channel perfusion after transmyocardial laser revascularization in humans.

Methods And Results: Fifteen consecutive patients aged 63+/-17 years were investigated 71+/-15 days after coronary artery bypass surgery and/or transmyocardial revascularization with 13-37 (20+/-5) channels (CO(2) laser, 40 J/pulse). Echocardiography was performed after injection of 6 ml echo contrast medium into left ventricular cavity and after injection of 3 ml contrast medium into the left main coronary artery.

[Secondary immunologically-caused myocarditis, pericarditis and exudative pleuritis due to meningococcal meningitis].

Myocarditis, pericarditis and pleural effusion as secondary immunological reactions due to meningococcal meningitis are rare. Meningococcal meningitis is itself uncommon, with a morbidity of approximately 1.25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year in Germany.

[Acute effects of enoximone after intracoronary administration on hemodynamics, myocardial perfusion and regional wall motion].

The influence of intracoronary enoximone at a dose of 0.075 mg/ kg/10 min on global and regional wall motion and myocardial perfusion (Group I, n = 10) as well as on diastolic LV function (Group II, n = 8) during pacing-induced ischemia was investigated in 18 patients with significant LAD stenoses. The hemodynamic parameters were determined by left heart catheterization, the systolic and diastolic left ventricular function by echocardiography including Doppler technique, and myocardial perfusion analysis was done after intracoronary application of contrast medium.

Effects of nicorandil on regional perfusion and left ventricular function.

Left ventricular function and regional perfusion were evaluated by two study designs in patient groups with stable ischemic coronary artery disease (CAD): (1) using conventional left ventricular angiographies and (2) applying myocardial contrast echocardiography. The aim of the studies was to establish the effects of sublingually or orally applied nicorandil (N) on pacing-induced myocardial ischemia (MIS). In the first angiographic study, in nine patients with ischemic CAD and with pacing-inducible MIS, the effect of N, 20 mg sublingually, on hemodynamics and regional wall motion (RWM) were studied.

[Doppler and echocardiography parameters in detection of acute graft rejection after heart transplantation].

Due to the invasive nature of myocardial biopsies, a complication rate of up to 2.5%, and the limitations, e.g.