Effects of potassium channel opener KRN4884 on human conduit arteries used as coronary bypass grafts.

Aims: The effects of a new potassium channel opener KRN4884 on human arteries have not been studied. This study was designed to investigate the effects of KRN4884 on the human internal mammary artery (IMA) in order to provide information on possible clinical applications of KRN4884 for preventing and relieving vasospasm of arterial grafts in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: IMA segments (n = 140) taken from patients undergoing coronary surgery were studied in the organ chamber.

Traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation and cerebral emboli.

We report a case of traumatic tricuspid valve regurgitation and late presentation with transient ischemic attacks caused by the presence of a right-to-left shunt through a small atrial septal defect.

Glucose control lowers the risk of wound infection in diabetics after open heart operations.

Background: Elevated blood glucose levels in the postoperative period are associated with an increased risk of deep wound infection in diabetic individuals undergoing open heart operations at Providence St. Vincent Hospital.

Methods: Of 8,910 patients who underwent cardiac operations between 1987 and 1993, 1,585 (18%) were diabetic.

Long-term outcome, survival analysis, and risk stratification of dynamic cardiomyoplasty.

Methods: To analyze the long-term outcome of dynamic cardiomyoplasty, we retrospectively studied 127 consecutive patients who underwent this procedure in Paris, France (n = 76), São Paulo, Brazil (n = 37), and Portland, Oregon (n = 14). Preoperative data were collected for patients operated on between January 1985 and June 1994 and examined with respect to effect on long-term survival. Patients had a mean age of 50 +/- 13 years and were predominantly male (82%).