[Obstacle to left ventricle ejection after mitral valvular replacement with a Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis. Apropos of 2 cases].

Impairment of the left ventricular ejection induced by a mitral prosthesis remains an infrequent complication, perhaps because it often is unrecognized. This complication would mainly be seen with ball prostheses or standard bioprosthesis used in mitral valve replacements with a small ventricle. Two cases have been recently reported during mitral valve replacement.

[Left ventricular ejection impediment during mitral valve replacement. Apropos of a case after insertion of a Carpentier-Edwards bioprosthesis].

Left ventricular ejection impediment is one of the complications of mitral valve replacement, especially in case of isolated mitral stenosis with small left ventricle. The use of a "low profile" valve does not prevent this complication. The diagnosis is based on catheterization but the advent of the ultrasound-Doppler may make it easier.

[Quantitative evaluation of myocardial ischemia using imaging methods].

Secondary prevention of myocardial infarction includes all measures likely to reduce morbidity and mortality after the infarction. It is a highly heterogeneous concept applied to a highly heterogeneous disease. The natural history of myocardial infarction, which must be known to determine the frequency of critical events and hence devise a trial, is incomplete particularly since treatment capable of altering this history (aorto-coronary bypass, thrombolysis) have been introduced.

[Bepridil and torsades de pointes. Apropos of 11 cases].

The authors report 11 cases of spikes occurring under bepridil treatment. It concerns an elderly population, predominantly female, receiving most of the time 300 mg of bepridil. The frequency of associated hypokalemic or arrhythmic medications is emphasized.

[Pneumopathy caused by amiodarone. An often unrecognized iatrogenic entity].

Three cases of interstitial pneumopathy secondary to amiodarone are reported, in addition to almost 200 cases previously published in the literature. The main clinical, radiological, biological and evolutive characteristics are reminded in emphasizing the advantages of bronchioalveolar irrigation. Some factors seem to be predisposing, without any definite proof however.