Thallium-201 myocardial SPECT in left bundle branch block: diagnosis of myocardial ischemia with a disease-specific reference database.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the value of a myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) reference file for patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB).

Methods And Results: Tl-201 stress-redistribution myocardial perfusion SPECT studies of patients with complete, permanent LBBB were reviewed retrospectively. To develop a reference database, 18 patients with a low likelihood of coronary artery disease (CAD) were selected.

[The role of echocardiography in acute myocardial infarct].

Echocardiography performed in acute myocardial infarction helps to make the diagnosis, to detect complications of acute myocardial infarction and to choose adequate therapy. The authors evaluate the echocardiographic results of 47 patients at bedside exam. Wall motion abnormalities were revealed in 16 of 19 Q-infarct cases.

[The role of transesophageal echocardiography in the fibrinolytic treatment of thrombosis on the artificial mitral valve].

Unlabelled: Fibrinolytic treatment of mitral mechanical prosthetic valve thrombosis is still controversial. This treatment can only be justified if the incidence and severity of complications is relatively low compared to the expected success-rate. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the selection of patients optimally suitable for fibrinolytic therapy.

[Thrombolysis by tissue plasminogen activator in acute myocardial infarct].

The authors participated in the European multicenter investigation, ESPRIT, organized by the Wellcome Research Laboratories. Thrombolytic treatment by intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was performed in 25 patients with early (less than 6h) myocardial infarction. The efficacy of the treatment was controlled by repeat coronary arteriography at 60 minutes, at 90 minutes and at 24 hours of the tpA treatment.