Neostigmine induced coronary artery spasm: A case report and literature review.

Neostigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor which does not cross the blood brain barrier and a commonly used for reversal of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. In the following case report, we present a patient who developed coronary artery spasm, after the administration of repeated doses of neostigmine. Ours is the first case to demonstrate such a longstanding coronary artery vasospasm that lasted several hours in response to neostigmine, resulting in myocardial damage and left ventricular dysfunction.

Association between statin treatment and LDL-cholesterol levels on the rate of ST-elevation myocardial infarction among patients with acute coronary syndromes: ACS Israeli Survey (ACSIS) 2002-2010.

Background: STEMI is thought to occur as a result of a vulnerable coronary plaque rupture. Statins possess hypolipidemic and pleotropic effects that stabilize coronary plaque. We sought to determine the association between LDL-C levels, statin use prior to the index event on the type of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) presentation: STEMI vs.

Aspiration thrombectomy in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (from the Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey 2010).

We assessed the impact of aspiration thrombectomy (AT) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) on major adverse cardiac events at 30 days and 1-year mortality in 517 consecutive patients who were included in the prospective, nationwide, multicenter, observational Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey in 2010. Two hundred seventeen patients (42%) underwent AT (AT-PPCI) and 300 patients conventional (C) PPCI. Both groups had similar infarct-related artery distribution and ostial or proximal culprit lesion.

Incidence and risk factors of cerebrovascular events following cardiac catheterization.

Background: One of the most daunting complications of cardiac catheterization is a cerebrovascular event (CVE). We aimed to assess the real-life incidence, etiology, and risk factors of cardiac catheterization-related acute CVEs in a large cohort of patients treated in a single center.

Methods And Results: We undertook a retrospective analysis of 43,350 coronary procedures performed on 30,907 procedure days over the period 1992-2011 and compared patient and procedural characteristics of procedures complicated by CVEs with the remaining cohort.

Diagnosis and treatment of early bioprosthetic malfunction in the mitral valve position due to thrombus formation.

Bioprosthetic valve thrombosis is uncommon and the diagnosis is often elusive and may be confused with valve degeneration. We report our experience with mitral bioprosthetic valve thrombosis and suggest a therapeutic approach. From 2002 to 2011, 149 consecutive patients who underwent mitral valve replacement with a bioprosthesis at a single center were retrospectively screened for clinical or echocardiographic evidence of valve malfunction.

Comparison of twelve-lead electrocardiogram using a glove-based recording system with standard methodology.

We tested the clinically relevant diagnostic accuracy of a new electrocardiographic (ECG) recording system incorporating all 10 ECG electrodes in a single-size glove worn on the patient's left arm and placed on the chest. The PhysioGlove (PG) was designed to allow fast, reproducible, electrode placement with only minimal training. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association ECG recording guidelines and others have repeatedly highlighted the unacceptable progressive deterioration in ECG accuracy mainly resulting from a performer's lack of proficiency and diligence, leading to frequent electrode misplacement.

Cryo-Balloon Ablation of the Right Superior Pulmonary Vein Involving the Anterior Right Ganglionated Plexus for Speech and Breathing Induced Atrial Tachycardia.

Targeting ganglionated plexi (GP) during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with improved outcome. We present a patient with speech and breathing induced atrial tachycardia (AT) originating in the superior vena cava (SVC) and the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), near the anatomical location of the anterior right GP (ARGP). The trigger for the arrhythmia appeared to be vagal discharge from the GP, possibly induced by local stretch.

High-frequency QRS analysis improves the specificity of exercise ECG testing in women referred for angiography.

Background: Exercise ECG testing in women for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) has a higher false-positive rate compared to men. Consequently, women referred for coronary angiography following a positive exercise test often have normal coronary arteries or non-obstructive lesions. Analysis of the high-frequency components of the QRS complexes (HFQRS) has been reported to provide a sensitive means of detecting myocardial ischemia, independent of gender.

Age differences in the adherence to treatment guidelines and outcome in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to assess age differences in the utilization of class-I treatment guidelines and its effect on mortality in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The study included 1026 consecutive patients from the prospective nationwide Acute Coronary Syndrome Israeli Survey (ACSIS). Primary reperfusion was used less often among elderly (age>75 years) patients than among those aged 65-74 and <65 years (46%, 63%, 64%, respectively, p (for trend)=0.

The twin-pass dual access catheter for assessment of the no-reflow phenomenon.

Unlabelled: The absence of antegrade flow in a coronary artery during an intervention is an ominous finding requiring diagnosis of the underlying cause and rapid treatment to limit myocardial necrosis. The Twin-Pass dual access catheter allows for distal coronary contrast injection without loss of wire position. The aim of this analysis was to determine the opacification and flow features of patients with abrupt arrest of antegrade flow to determine the underlying pathology.

Reperfusion ventricular arrhythmia 'bursts' predict larger infarct size despite TIMI 3 flow restoration with primary angioplasty for anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims Successful epicardial reperfusion with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can paradoxically evoke myocardial reperfusion injury, which may be signalled by temporally associated ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). We correlated reperfusion VA 'bursts' with final infarct size (IS) in patients with restored TIMI 3 flow following PCI for anterior STEMI. Methods and results All 128 anterior STEMI patients with final TIMI 3 flow had continuous 24 h digital 12-lead ECG with simultaneous Holter recording initiated prior to PCI, and Day 7/discharge SPECT imaging IS assessment.

Effect of caldaret on the incidence of severe left ventricular dysfunction in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary intervention.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) decreases myocardial damage in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Cellular reperfusion injury associated with calcium overload may limit myocardial salvage. We previously showed (CASTEMI trial) that caldaret (MCC-135), which modulates myocardial calcium handling when administered before PCI in patients with STEMI, did not change residual left ventricular (LV) function.

Reperfusion ventricular arrhythmia 'bursts' in TIMI 3 flow restoration with primary angioplasty for anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a more precise definition of reperfusion arrhythmias.

Aims: We sought to define reperfusion-induced ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) more precisely through simultaneous angiography, continuous ST-segment recovery, and beat-to-beat Holter analyses in subjects with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary angioplasty [percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)].

Methods And Results: All 157 subjects with final TIMI 3 flow had continuous 12-lead electrocardiography with simultaneous Holter recording initiated prior to PCI for continuous ST-segment recovery and quantitative VA analyses. Ventricular arrhythmia bursts were detected against subject-specific background VA rates using a statistical outlier method.

Comparison of Troponin T to creatine kinase and to radionuclide cardiac imaging infarct size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary angioplasty.

Troponin is used mainly for detection of minor myocardial damage, whereas repeated measurements of creatine kinase (CK) and myocardial band (CK-MB) are used for assessing infarct size in patients with myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to correlate peak level and area under the curve (AUC) of troponin T to that of CK and CK-MB and with single-photon emission computed tomographic infarct size and left ventricular function in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction. In this multicenter study (29 centers, 5 countries), we included 267 patients who underwent primary coronary intervention within 6 hours of onset of symptoms.

Contemporary treatment and adherence to guidelines in women and men with acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Historically gender differences existed in treatment and outcome of patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).

Aim: To assess gender aspects of contemporary treatment and adherence to ACC/AHA Class-I Treatment Guidelines in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: We studied 2024 consecutive patients (519 women, 26%); 1026 (51%) with ST-elevation (STE)-MI and 998 (49%) patients with non-STE (NSTE), during a nationwide ACS-survey, conducted during 2-months in 2004.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the safety and efficacy of intravenous MCC-135 as an adjunct to primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute myocardial infarction: Evaluation of MCC-135 for left ventricular salvage in acute myocardial infarction (EVOLVE).

Objectives: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that intracellular calcium modulation by 5-methyl-2-[piperazin-1-yl] benzene sulfonic acid monohydrate (MCC-135 [Caldaret]; Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation, Osaka, Japan) would preserve left ventricular function and reduce infarct size in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Calcium overload inside myocytes during ischemia and reperfusion not only affects myocardial function but also may be related to myocyte necrosis. MCC-135 is the first in a new class of agents that modulate intracellular calcium overload.

Effects of intensive versus moderate lipid-lowering therapy on myocardial ischemia in older patients with coronary heart disease: results of the Study Assessing Goals in the Elderly (SAGE).

Background: Clinical trials have demonstrated that, compared with placebo, intensive statin therapy reduces ischemia in patients with acute coronary syndromes and in patients with stable coronary artery disease. However, no studies to date have assessed intensive versus moderate statin therapy in older patients with stable coronary syndromes.

Methods And Results: A total of 893 ambulatory coronary artery disease patients (30% women) 65 to 85 years of age with > or = 1 episode of myocardial ischemia that lasted > or = 3 minutes during 48-hour ambulatory ECG at screening were randomized to atorvastatin 80 mg/d or pravastatin 40 mg/d and followed up for 12 months.

Results of the first clinical study of adjunctive CAldaret (MCC-135) in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: the randomized multicentre CASTEMI study.

Aims: To examine the safety and efficacy of intravenous caldaret in patients with large acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: STEMI patients (n=387) with > or =10 mm summed ST-deviation on electrocardiogram were randomized to receive a 48 h infusion of caldaret 57.5 mg [lower dose (LD)], caldaret 172.

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning. Report of 5 Israeli patients.

Background: Transient left ventricular (LV) apical ballooning is characterized by acute onset of chest pain with reversible balloon-like LV motion abnormality, hypercontractile basal segments, ST segment elevation or T-wave inversion in anterior chest leads and mild cardiac enzyme rise in the absence of significant coronary disease.

Methods: We describe 5 patients (4 females) with anteroapical ballooning who were hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction and showed ST segment elevation in anterior chest leads.

Results: Echocardiogram demonstrated apical ballooning with normal or hypercontractile contraction of the basal segments.

Anaemia and heart failure: aetiology and treatment.

Heart failure (HF) is a common disease associated with poor prognosis. Anaemia is commonly associated with HF due to bone marrow depression, reduced availability of iron and haemodilution, and is sometimes aggravated by too frequent blood testing. Low haemoglobin is very detrimental to the haemodynamic state of the patient with decreased cardiac output as it further diminishes the oxygen supply to the tissues.

Management and outcomes of elderly women and men with acute coronary syndromes in 2000 and 2002.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that women with myocardial infarction are treated less aggressively and have worse outcomes compared with men. The objective of this study was to evaluate sex differences in the management and outcomes of elderly (age > or = 70 years) women and men with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) in the new millennium.

Methods: This study includes 1331 consecutive elderly patients with ACSs admitted to all intensive coronary care units and cardiology departments in Israel from 2 prospective nationwide ACS surveys conducted in 2000 and 2002.