Electrocardiographic identification of the infarct-related artery in acute inferior myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Mortality and morbidity from acute inferior myocardial infarction (MI) are determined, among other factors, by the infarct-related artery (IRA). Several electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria have been proposed to differentiate between the right coronary artery (RCA) and the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) as the IRA in inferior MI. Recently, a new criterion has been proposed (ST segment depression in lead aVR).

PAMI risk score for mortality prediction in acute myocardial indarction treated with primary angioplasty.

Objective: Based on the PAMI 1 and 2, AIR PAMI, and STENT PAMI trials, a risk score to predict mortality in patients undergoing primary angioplasty was recently proposed--the PAMI risk score. It includes only 6 parameters. As one of the first tools available to predict mortality in this group of patients, it results from controlled trials, with restricted inclusion criteria.

Hamartoma of the mitral valve with blood cysts: a rare tumor detected by echocardiography.

A 16-year-old boy was submitted to a cardiac examination after an episode of faintness. A transthoracic echocardiogram was performed, which revealed a very mobile multicystic tumor attached to the mitral valve. A small solid mass adherent to the cysts was better defined by transesophageal echocardiography.