Increased local temperature in human coronary atherosclerotic plaques: an independent predictor of clinical outcome in patients undergoing a percutaneous coronary intervention.

Objectives: We investigated the midterm clinical significance of human coronary atherosclerotic plaques temperature after a successful percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Previous studies have shown an increased temperature in human atherosclerotic plaques. However, the prognostic significance of atherosclerotic plaque temperature in patients undergoing a successful percutaneous intervention is unknown.

Stent deployment in calcified lesions: can we overcome calcific restraint with high-pressure balloon inflations?

Although significant coronary artery (CA) calcification is believed to affect stent deployment, the exact impact on stent deployment after high-pressure balloon inflations is unknown. Intracoronary intravascular examination (ICUS) was performed in 27 moderate-severe calcified CA lesions before and after stent implantation. In case of unsatisfactory results (in-stent area < 90%, minimal in-stent diameter/maximal in-stent diameter < 0.

Transluminal extraction catheter atherectomy for the treatment of acute occlusion of an ectatic coronary artery.

Thrombotic occlusion of an ectatic coronary artery may not respond to thrombolytic therapy or balloon angioplasty, since the infarct-related vessel contains a significant amount of thrombus. A patient with acute myocardial infarction of an ectatic right coronary artery that was occluded by a heavy clot burden is described. The patient was treated successfully with transluminal extraction catheter atherectomy and results were confirmed by intravascular ultrasound.

Implantation of stents covered by autologous arterial grafts in human coronary arteries: a new technique.

Unlabelled: A renewed interest in radial artery conduits for bypass surgery has emerged during the last few years. In order to combine a surgical with a percutaneous technique, stents were covered by radial arterial grafts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of, and the immediate and long-term results after, intracoronary implantation of stents covered by autologous arterial grafts.

Stents covered by autologous venous grafts: feasibility and immediate and long-term results.

Background: Previous experimental studies with a new covered stent, the autologous venous graft-covered stent (AVGCS), have shown favorable results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of this new technique in human coronary arteries and to compare the long-term outcome with uncovered stents.

Methods And Results: A venous graft was removed from an upper limb.

Coronary artery distensibility in diabetic patients with simultaneous measurements of luminal area and intracoronary pressure: evidence of impaired reactivity to nitroglycerin.

Objectives: This study investigated whether noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) adversely affects the elastic properties of the coronary arteries in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and NIDDM.

Background: Attenuated vascular smooth muscle dilation to exogenous donors of nitric oxide, such as nitroglycerin, has been observed with forearm blood flow studies in patients with NIDDM.

Methods: Twenty patients with CAD and NIDDM (diabetics), and 20 patients with only CAD (nondiabetics) were evaluated.

Aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease caused by alkaptonuria, a rare genetic metabolic syndrome.

Alkaptonuria is a rare metabolic disease in which homogentisic acid deposits occur in various body tissues. We present a case of alkaptonuria which resulted in aortic stenosis and coronary artery disease due to homogentisic acid deposition.

Effects of ventricular pacing-induced tachycardia on aortic mechanics in man.

Objective: Effects of pacing-induced tachycardia on left ventricular function have been studied extensively. However, little attention has been focused on aortic elastic properties during heart rate increments. The aim was to determine the effects of right ventricular pacing on the aortic elastic properties.

Impaired compensatory coronary artery enlargement in atherosclerosis contributes to the development of coronary artery stenosis in diabetic patients. An in vivo intravascular ultrasound study.

Aims: Coronary arteries affected by atherosclerosis undergo focal compensatory enlargement, which can be detected by intracoronary ultrasound but not by angiography. Diabetic patients when compared with non-diabetics have a more accelerated progression of coronary artery disease and a more diffuse narrowing of the coronary arteries. Intracoronary ultrasound can clarify if this is due to less compensatory coronary artery enlargement as a response to atherosclerosis.

Autologous vein graft-coated stents for the treatment of thrombus-containing coronary artery lesions.

Recent studies have shown that stents may have a potential role in the treatment of thrombus-containing lesions. We report on the application of an autologous vein graft-coated stent (AVGCS) as the primary therapeutic modality for acute myocardial infarction in 10 patients. AVGCS delivery and deployment were successful and uneventful.

Autologous vein graft-coated stent for treatment of coronary artery disease.

Acute or subacute thrombosis and late restenosis remain the main limitations of permanent stenting. In an effort to address these limitations, an autologous vein graft-coated stent (AVGCS) was developed at our institution. This stent consists of a conventional stent (Palmaz or Palmaz-Schatz, Johnson and Johnson), which is covered by an autologous vein graft.

Coronary artery fistulas in adults: incidence, angiographic characteristics, natural history.

The incidence, angiographic characteristics, and natural history of coronary artery fistulas in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization have not been well defined. Of 33,600 patients who had diagnostic cardiac catheterization, 34 (0.1%) had coronary artery fistula.

Left atrial volumes and function in orthotopic cardiac transplantation.

Early ventricular filling and therefore passive left atrial emptying may be impaired in patients with cardiac transplantation. As a result, left atrial function may be an important factor in maintaining stroke volume in recipients of orthotopic cardiac transplants. Left atrial volumes maximal (mitral valve opening), minimal (mitral valve closure), and onset of atrial systole (P wave on electrocardiogram) were determined by echocardiography using the biplane area-length method in 12 patients after cardiac transplantation and 12 control subjects.

Valvular heart disease: the influence of changing etiology on nosology.

The many changes in classification of cardiovascular disease during the twentieth century reflect changing etiology of diseases, clinical comprehension and technological advances. In particular, the etiology of valvular heart disease has changed dramatically in the last five decades. The significant reduction of acute rheumatic fever and its sequelae, and the recognition of non-rheumatic causes of valvular disease are responsible for the metamorphosis in the etiology of valvular disorders.

Mitral valve prolapse: left ventricular hemodynamics in patients with chest pain, dyspnea or both.

Patients with mitral valve prolapse may present with chest pain and dyspnea. Left ventricular hemodynamics as a cause for these symptoms have not been completely evaluated in these patients. The present study was undertaken to investigate left ventricular hemodynamics in symptomatic patients with mitral valve prolapse.