Real time measurement of heparin concentration during cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background: A heparin/protamine titration system for measurement of heparin levels (Hepcon) is promising for efficient anticoagulation during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: Fifty-seven patients subjected to CPB were divided into two groups, control (n = 24) and Hepcon groups (n = 33). The Hepcon group was further divided into three subgroups according to perfusion temperature.

[An experience with peeling technique with curettage of open mitral commissurotomy].

Ideally, the mitral valve is a soft, thin and flexible tissue. In severe rheumatic mitral stenosis, however, its motion is restricted due to the adhesion of fibrous tissues and calcium. Open mitral commissurotomy was not effective in successfully restoring it to normal condition.

[Infective endocarditis associated with ruptured aneurysm of Valsalva: aortic valve replacement after reconstruction of left ventricular outflow tract].

Infective endocarditis associated with ruptured aneurysm of Valsalva disrupted the vicinity of aortic annulus (Valsalva, valve, left ventricular outflow tract). This condition did not accept insertion of prosthetic valve at normal position. Insertion of St.

[Severe acute cardiac failure caused by the combination of the aortic stenosis and sudden onset of the mitral chordae rupture].

The patient, who had an aortic stenosis, suddenly complicated with severe acute cardiac failure. The rupture of the mitral chordae tendineae was detected by the echocardiogram. Double replacements (aortic and mitral) were done immediately after the onset of chordae rupture.

[Relationship between exercise induced ischemia and left ventricular dysfunction; simultaneous assessment of perfusion and function images with 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial scintigraphy].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between exercise induced ischemia and left ventricular dysfunction, ergometer exercise 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial scintigraphy was performed using one day protocol (exercise/rest). Subjects consisted of 68 patients without previous myocardial infarction; without coronary artery disease (CAD) (n = 36) and with CAD (n = 32). Perfusion and function images were evaluated simultaneously.

[Usefulness of myocardial T2-weighted MR imaging using the turbo spin echo technique].

Myocardial T2-weighted imaging using the turbo spin echo technique was superior to the conventional spin echo technique because of the shorter scan time and reduced artifacts. Furthermore, single cardiac phase images of all planes could be taken within a short scan time. T2-weighted imaging using the turbo spin echo technique was an effective method to evaluate myocardial abnormalities.

[Efficacy of simultaneous function and perfusion imaging on 99mTc-tetrofosmin myocardial scintigraphy].

The aim of this study was to determine whether the diagnosis for coronary artery disease (CAD) with 99mTc-tetrofosmin (Tf) myocardial scintigraphy was improved by the combination of function image and perfusion image as compared with perfusion alone. Tf myocardial scintigraphy was performed with one-day protocol (stress/rest) in 51 patients (CAD: 32, Non-CAD: 19) without previous myocardial infarction. Function image was obtained by first pass method, and perfusion image by SPECT.