Early vascular healing with rapid breakdown biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting versus durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents assessed by optical coherence tomography.

Background: Differences in early arterial healing patterns after stent implantation between biodegradable and durable polymer based new generation drug-eluting stents are not well understood. The aim of this study was to compare the healing patterns of a novel rapid breakdown (≤8 weeks) biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (BP-SES) with a durable polymer everolimus-eluting stent (EES) using intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) at 4 months.

Methods: A total of 20 patients were randomly assigned to stenting with BP-SES (n=11) or EES (n=9).

Clopidogrel pre-treatment is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality in primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

AIMS Pre-treatment with clopidogrel results in a reduction of ischaemic events in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes. Data on upstream clopidogrel in the setting of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether clopidogrel loading before arrival at the PCI centre may result in an improved outcome of primary PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

2-year results of the AUTAX (Austrian Multivessel TAXUS-Stent) registry beyond the SYNTAX (synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXUS and cardiac surgery) study.

Objectives: The multicenter AUTAX (Austrian Multivessel TAXUS-Stent) registry investigated the 2-year clinical/angiographic outcomes of patients with multivessel coronary artery disease after implantation of TAXUS Express stents (Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts), in a "real-world" setting.

Background: The AUTAX registry included patients with 2- or 3-vessel disease, with/without previous percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and concomitant surgery.

Methods: Patients (n = 441, 64 +/- 12 years, 78% men) (n = 1,080 lesions) with possible complete revascularization by PCI were prospectively included.

Gender-related outcome following percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-elevation myocardial infarction: data from the Austrian acute PCI registry.

Aims: Whether or not primary percutaneous coronary intervention (P-PCI) is equally effective and safe in women and men in a real world setting is still a matter of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gender on in-hospital outcome after P-PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in a prospective national registry.

Methods And Results: This registry includes in-hospital outcome data from 19 PCI-performing hospitals.

Small vessel stenting with cobalt-chromium stents (Arthos Pico) in a real world setting.

Background: In current clinical practice, 35-67% of significant coronary artery lesions are located in small (<3.0 mm) vessels, a setting with poor short- and long-term results after percutaneous coronary interventions.

Objectives: The aim of the present Arthos Pico Austria Multicenter Registry is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Arthos Pico (cobalt-chromium alloy) stent implantation in small coronary arteries in a real world setting.

Treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients with a combination of verapamil and captopril--a multicenter study.

Unlabelled: The regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients was evaluated in a multicenter study with a combination therapy of verapamil 120 mg and captopril 25 mg given once or twice daily. The degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was assessed using echocardiography, while hypertension was evaluated by means of twice daily blood pressure self-measurements and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Results: An overall of 61 patients was evaluated.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt: angiographic follow-up and secondary interventions.

Purpose: To evaluate transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placements and secondary interventions.

Materials And Methods: Thirty shunt venograms were obtained in 21 patients with TIPS placement at 6-month intervals or if Doppler ultrasound showed an abnormality.

Results: Abnormalities in the shunt were shown in 24 venograms (80%).

[Management of acute intrathoracic aortic dissection].

At the intensive care station of the Internal Medicine Department, University Clinic Graz, all patients admitted were promptly and carefully examined in case of suspected acute intrathoracic aortic dissection and immediately treated. In 1987 a total of 4446 patients were referred to this CCU, 893 suffered from acute thoracic pain. In 21 patients of the latter a clinical suspicion of aortic dissection was observed.

Flow patterns of mitral regurgitation due to different etiologies: analysis by color-coded Doppler echocardiography.

We have used cross-sectional real time color-coded Doppler echocardiography to characterize the patterns of the regurgitant jet seen in mitral valvar disease of different etiologies. We studied 118 patients with mitral regurgitation due to rheumatic valve disease (n = 26), hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (n = 22), dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 35) and prolapse of the leaflets of the mitral valve (n = 35). We analyzed the origin, spatial distribution, extent and duration of the regurgitant jet.

Semiquantitative grading of mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography.

We evaluated patients with mitral regurgitation by color-coded Doppler echocardiography using a semiquantitative score system, which is useful in the clinical setting, by providing rapid discrimination between mild, moderate and severe regurgitation. The study was performed in 42 patients (19 female, 23 male) mean age 58 years, range 23-75 years with mitral regurgitation of different etiology. Color-coded Doppler measurements were compared to angiographic findings using a three point score system.

[Randomized comparison between gallopamil and diltiazem in angiography verified coronary heart disease].

In a randomized study 30 patients (age 59 +/- 7) with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease were treated with either gallopamil (15 patients) or diltiazem (15 patients). After a 48-h-run-in period of treatment with nitrates the gallopamil group was treated with 3 X 60 mg/day, and the diltiazem group was treated with 3 X 50 mg diltiazem/day. As criteria for the efficacy of therapy the anginal frequency, the nitroglycerin consumption, and exercise tolerance were monitored.

Transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography in young patients with cerebral ischemic events.

Using transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac structures can be imaged with high resolution. The aim of our study was to evaluate whether transesophageal echocardiography is superior in detecting mitral valve prolapse and other cardiac abnormalities compared with transthoracic echocardiography in an age-matched control group and in young patients with cerebral ischemic events (patient group). Forty patients with cerebral ischemic events (mean age 35.

[Clinical significance and expanded diagnostic possibilities by transesophageal echocardiography].

Two-dimensional echocardiography is already a well-established diagnostic tool for evaluation of cardiac diseases. The introduction of two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has widened the ultrasonic examination possibilities of the heart and great arteries. In 15% of patients where two-dimensional echocardiography gave false - negative results, TEE detected vegetations on the mitral and aortic valves.

[Color Doppler echocardiography: expanded noninvasive cardiologic diagnosis].

Two-dimensional color Doppler flow mapping (CD) provides actual information concerning the spatial distribution of blood flow within the heart and the great vessels. CD enables the differentiation between physiological and pathological blood flow situations and provides additional information concerning turbulence, velocity and spatial relations. Thus rapid semiquantitative assessment of regurgitant lesions, detection of eccentric jets across stenotic valves and imaging of intracardiac shunts is possible.

[Percutaneous transluminal valvuloplasty of a stenosed and calcified aortic valve in the aged].

In a 76-years old female patient with calcific aortic stenosis percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty reduced the aortic gradient from 80 mm Hg to 40 mm Hg. The preexisting aortic regurgitation did not increase after the procedure. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed without any complications and the patient was discharged one week after.

[Basedow's disease and mitral valve prolapse].

The prevalence of mitral valve prolapse was investigated in 60 patients with Graves' disease (42 with ophthalmopathy) and in 20 patients with toxic nodular goitre. 2410 patients from the echocardiography laboratory served as controls. Standard M-mode, Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography were performed.